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Pocket  Literal 
Translations  of  the  Classics* 

CLOTH  BINDING.    EACH,  50  CENTS. 

These  translations  have  been  prepared  with  great  c^re  "They 
follow  the  original  text  literally,  thus  formmg  a  valuable  help 
o  thIstudenUn  his  efforts  to  master  the  difficulties  which  beset 
him     Pleasing  sketches  of  the  authors  appear  in  the  form  of  an 

n^tr:::^f  I'-tSt  form,  bemg  exceptionally 
haId;for°Ae  pocket.  They  are  printed  from  clear  type,  and 
are  attractively  and  durably  bound. 

Caesar's  Comniefltaries.-Six  \  AeschyWPromeAeusBound 

Books. 

Cicero's  Defence  of  Roscius. 
Cicero  on  Old  Age  and  Friend- 
Cicero  on  Oratory.  [ship. 
Cicero's  Select  Orations. 
Cicero's  Select  Letters. 
Cornelius  Nepos,  complete. 
Horace,  complete. 
Tuvenal's  Satires,  complete. 

_Books  I  and  2. 
Lj^y^__Books  21  and  22. 
Ovid '  s    Metamorphoses.  — 

Books  1-7. 
Ovid's  Metamorphoses.— 

Books  8-15- 
Plauttts'  Captivi  and  Mostel- 

laria, 

SaUust's   CatiHne  ana  The 

Tugurthine  "War. 
Tacitus'  Annals.-The  First 

Six  Books. 
Tacitus'  Germany  and  Agric- 

ola. 

Terence'  Andria,  Adelphi,  and 

Phormio. 
Virgil's  Aeneid.— Six  Books. 
Virgil's  Eclogues  and  Geor- 


and  Seven  Against  Thebes. 
Aristophanes'  Clouds,  Birds, 

and  Frogs.— In  one  Vol. 
Demosthenes'  On  the  Crown. 
Demosthenes'  Olynthiacs  and 

Philippics. 
Euripides' Alcestis  andElectra. 
Euripides' Medea. 
Herodotus —Books  6  and  7. 
Homer's  Iliad -Nine  Books 
Homer's  Odyssey  .—1 3  Books. 
Lysias'  Select  Orations. 
Plato's  Apology,  Grito  and 

Phaedo. 
Plato's  Gorgias. 
Sophocles'  Oedipus  Tyrannus, 

Electra,  and  Antigone. 
Xenophon's  Anabasis.— ive 
Books. 

Xenophon's  Memorabilia, 

complete. 
Goethe's  Egmont. 
Goethe's  Faust. 
Goethe's  Hermann  and  Doro- 
thea. 

Goethe's  Iphigenia  In  Tauris. 
Lessing's  Minna  von  Barn- 
helm. 

Lessing's  Nathan  the  Wise* 
Schiller's  Maid  of  Orleans* 
—    Schiller's  Maria  Stuart* 
Virl  Romae.  [gics.  I  Schiller's  William  TelL 

Others  will  be  added  at  short  intervals. 

DAVID  McKAY,  Publisher,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


FIRST  SIX  BOOKS 
or 

VIRGIVS  iENEID 


MTERALIiY  TBANSLATED  INTO  ENGLISH  PBOSB 

By  DAVIDSON 


WIO^H    AN    INTRODUCTION  BY 
EDWARD  BROOKS,  jR. 


.  PHILADELPHIA: 
DAVID   McKAY,  PUBLISHER, 

6io  SOUTH  WASHINGTON  SQUARE. 

IBRARVaOFlURBANA-CHAMPAIGM 


Copyright  1895  By  The  Penn  Publishing  Company 
Copyright  1896  By  David  McKay 


^7X 

INTRODUCTION 


Publius  Vergilius  Maro  was  born  at  Andes,  a 
small  village  about  three  miles  from  Mantua,  on 
October  isth,  70  B.  C.  His  father,  an  Italian 
farmer,  was  possessed  of  a  comfortable  fortune 
which  enabled  him  to  give  his  son  a  liberal  Greek 
and  Latin  education.  Virgil's  early  school  days 
were  spent  in  Cremona.  At  the  age  of  sixteen, 
assuming  the  manly  toga,  he  studied  at  Milan,  and 
afterward  at  Naples  under  the  instruction  of 
Parthenius,  the  poet  and  philosopher.  He  com- 
pleted his  education  at  Rome  about  47  B.  C, 
under  Siron,  the  friend  of  Cicero,  by  whom  he  was 
instructed  in  philosophy,  mathematics  and  phy- 
sics. His  natural  inclination  for  studious  pur- 
suits, and  his  delicate  constitution,  led  him  to 
abandon  his  desire  to  indulge  an  ambition  for  a 
public  life,  and  caused  him  to  withdraw  to  his  farm 
at  Andes,  where  he  gave  himself  up  to  the  pur- 
suit of  husbandry  and  the  study  of  the  Greek 
poets.  It  was  about  this  time  that  he  began  to 
write  his  Bucolics,  subsequently  called  Eclogues 
by  the  critics.  3 


4  INTRODUCTION. 

After  the  battle  of  Phillipi,  Octavianus  rewarded 
his  soldiers  by  assigning  to  them  various  districts 
of  Italy  which  had  been  opposed  to  him.  The 
soldiers  took  possession  of  the  land  in  these  districts 
and  drove  the  former  owners  from  their  posses- 
sions. The  neighborhood  of  Mantua  was  one  of 
the  districts  assigned  to  the  soldiers,  and  thus 
Virgil  was  deprived  of  his  property.  By  the  ad- 
vice of  one  Asinius  Pollio,  Governor  of  Transal- 
pine Gaul,  Virgil  requested  Octavianus  to  restore 
to  him  his  property.  The  request  was  granted, 
and  it  is  supposed  that  one  of  his  Eclogues  was 
written  to  express  his  gratitude  for  this  favor. 

In  19  B.  C.  Virgil  visited  Greece,  intending  to 
make  a  tour  of  that  country  for  the  purpose  of 
perfecting  his  great  epic  poem  "The  ^neid." 
With  prophetic  dread  the  poet  Horace  in  an  ode 
addressed  to  the  ship  which  bore  his  friend  to 
Greece,  prays  for  his  safe  return.  Meeting  with 
Octavianus  at  Athens,  as  he  was  travelling  from 
Samos  to  Rome,  Virgil  suddenly  changed  his  plans 
and  decided  to  return  with  his  patron.  At  Meg- 
ara  he  was  taken  ill.  He  grew  worse  on  the 
voyage  home,  and  died  a  few  days  after  his  arrival 
at  Brundisium  on  the  22d  of  September  of  the 
year  19  B.  C.  In  accordance  with  his  request  he 
was  buried  near  Naples,  which  city  had  been  his 
favorite  residence,  partly  on  account  of  its  beauti- 


INTRODUCTION. 


5 


ful  scenery  and  partly  on  account  of  its  mild  cli- 
mate, congenial  to  his  delicate  constitution. 

In  appearance  Virgil  was  t^U  and  rather  stoutly 
built,  and  of  dark  complexion.  He  is  said  to  have 
been  shy  and  diffident  in  his  manners,  and  very 
slow  of  speech.  He  was,  however,  a  delightful 
reader,  and  possessed  that  peculiar  faculty  of 
arousing  an  interest  in  subjects  which  were  gen- 
erally considered  dull  and  uninteresting. 

Virgil  in  his  early  life  gained  the  friendship  of 
♦  Maecenas,  the  confidential  friend  and  adviser  of 
Octavianus.  With  the  emperor  himself  and  all  the 
brilliant  men  of  genius  who  composed  his  court,  he 
lived  on  terms  of  intimacy.  He  appears  to  have 
been  entirely  devoid  of  that  element  of  character 
so  common  to  men  of  genius  generally  known  as 
*  *  professional  jealousy. '  *  The  successes  of  others 
gratified  him  almost  as  much  as  his  own,  and  his 
large  library  was  always  at  the  service  of  men  of 
learning.  He  was  a  great  friend  of  the  poet  Hor- 
ace, and  accompanied  him  in  his  famous  journey 
to  Brundisium.  Both  of  these  great  poets  were 
afflicted  with  ailments.  Horace  with  weak  eyes, 
and  Virgil  with  asthmatic  trouble,  from  which 
circumstance  arose  the  saying  attributed  to  Octa- 
'  vianus,  that  with  these  two  poets  on  either  hand 
he  was  sitting  between  tears  and  sighs. 

It  is  probable  that  Virgil  was  quite  wealthy. 
Donabus  rates  his  fortune  at  ten  thousand  sestertia. 


6 


INTRODUCTION. 


about  four  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  it  is  re- 
lated that  Octavia,  the  emperor's  sister,  on  one 
occasion,  made  him  a  present  of  ten  thousand  dol- 
lars as  a  reward  for  his  allusion  in  the  latter  part 
of  the  sixth  book  of  the  ^neid  to  the  virtues  of 
her  son  Marcellus,  who  died  at  an  early  age.  He 
had  a  handsome  house  at  Rome  on  the  Esquiline 
Hill,  near  the  residences  of  Maecenas  and  Horace, 
besides  his  farm  at  Andes. 

Virgirs  works  consist  of  The  Bucolics  (so- 
called  by  the  poet  himself,  though  frequentHy 
termed  by  others  **The  Eclogues '0,  **The 
Georgics''  and  "The  ^neid.'*  There  are,  be- 
sides these,  some  minor  poems  attributed  to  him, 
which  he  may  or  may  not  have  written.  The 
Bucolics  or  Eclogues  are  pastoral  poems,  ten  in 
number,  and  are  doubtless  his  earliest  productions. 
Their  merit  consists  chiefly  in  their  versification, 
which  was  smoother  and  more  polished  than  pre- 
vious Roman  hexameters.  The  Georgics  is  an 
agricultural  poem  in  four  books,  in  which  the 
author  attempts  to  combine  science  with  poetic 
fancies.  In  this  composition  the  powers  of  the 
poet  are  seen  to  be  more  matured  and  the  subject, 
though  possessing  but  little  of  the  poetic  element, 
is  treated  with  such  freshness  and  vigor  that  the 
work  is  considered  by  some  as  the  most  perfect  in 
artistic  construction  of  all  the  Italian  writers. 
The  ^neid  is  a  national  epic  poem  in  twelve 


INTRODUCTION. 


7 


books,  and  describes  the  wanderings  of  ^neas. 
who,  with  his  father  Anchises,  fled  from  the 
burning  ruins  of  Troy,  and  after  wandering  over 
boundless  and  unknown  seas  finally  founded  on 
foreign  soil  a  new  nation  destined  to  become  one 
of  the  greatest  and  most  lasting  the  world  has 
ever  seen.  In  point  of  artistic  skill  the  Jjneid  is 
inferior  to  the  Georgics,  but  this  defect  is  easily 
accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  the  author  died 
without  giving  the  work  its  final  touches.  Virgil 
was  eleven  years  in  preparing  this  work,  and  pur- 
posed devoting  three  more  years  to  polishing  and 
elaborating  it.  On  this  account,  in  his  last  ill- 
ness, he  ordered  the  work  to  be  burned.  It  was, 
however,  preserved  and  published,  without  alter- 
ation, by  his  friends  Varius  and  Tacca,  and  stands 
to  day  as  an  epic  second  only  to  the  Iliad  and 
Odyssey  of  Homer. 

The  supremacy  of  Virgil  among  Roman  poets  in 
ancient  times  was  unquestioned.  He  was  as  pre- 
eminent as  a  poet  as  Cicero  was  as  an  orator.  Of 
late  his  right  to  be  ranked  among  the  great  poets 
of  the  world  has  been  questioned  by  German  and 
English  critics,  and  he  has  frequently  been  accused 
of  having  copied  from  Homer.  Many  eminent 
critics,  however,  deny  that  Homer  had  any  advant 
age  over  him  excepting  that  of  writing  first,  and 
claim  that  whatever  Virgil  took  he  so  entirely 
wrought  over  that  every  line  breathes  the  air  of 
1  ^ 


8 


INTRODUCTION. 


Rome  and  is  stamped  with  the  author's  own  indi- 
viduality. The  best  authorities  accord  to  him  the 
right  to  rank  among  the  foremost  of  great  poets, 
and  it  cannot  be  denied  that  he  stands  to-day  as 
the  most  complete  representative  of  the  deepest 
sentiment  of  his  countrymen  and  of  his  time. 


VIRGIL'S  i^lNEID. 


BOOK  I. 

The  subject  of  "the  iEneid  is  the  settlement  of  ^neas  in  Italy.  This  noble 
Poem,  on  the  composition  of  which  Virgil  was  engaged  eleven  years, 
consists  of  twelve  books,  and  comprehends  a  period  of  eight  years.  In 
the  First  Book  the  hero  is  introduced  in  the  seventh  year  of  his  expedi- 
tion sailing  from  Sicily  and  shipwrecked  upon  the  coast  of  Africa,  where 
he  is  kindly  received  by  Dido,  queen  of  Carthage.  The  description  of 
the  storm  in  this  book  is  particularly  admired . 

Arms  I  sing,  and  the  hero,  who  first,  exiled  by  fate, 
came  from  the  coast  of  Troy  to  Italy,  and  the  I^avinian 
shore  :  much  was  he  tossed  both  on  sea  and  land,  by  the 
power  of  those  above,  on  account  of  the  unrelenting  rage 
of  cruel  Juno  :  much  too  he  suffered  in  war  till  he 
founded  a  city  and  brought  his  gods  into  I^atium  :  from 
whence  the  Latin  progeny,  the  Alban  fathers,  and  the 
walls  of  lofty  Rome. 

Declare  to  me,  O  Muse  1  the  causes,  In  what  the  deity 
being  offended,  by  what  the  queen  of  heaven  was  pro- 
voked to  drive  a  man  of  distinguished  piety  to  struggle 
with  so  many  calamities,  to  encounter  so  many  hard- 
ships.   Is  there  such  resentment  in  heavenly  minds  ? 

An  ancient  city  there  was,  Carthage  (inhabited  by  a 
colony  of  Tyrians) ,  fronting  Italy  and  the  mouth  of  the 
Tiber,  far  remote ;  vast  in  riches  and  extremely  hardy 
in  warlike  exercises  ;  which  [city]  Juno  is  said  to  have 
honoured  more  than  any  other  place  of  her  residence, 
Samos  being  set  aside.  Here  lay  her  arms  ;  here  was  her 
chariot ;  here  the  goddess  even  then  designs  and  fondly 
9 


10 


B.  I.  ^7-461 


hopes  to  establish  a  seat  of  universal  empire,  would  only 
the  Fates  permit.  But  she  had  heard  of  a  race  to  be 
descended  from  Trojan  blood,  that  was  one  day  to  over- 
turn the  Tyrian  towers  :  that  hence  a  people  of  extensive 
regal  sway  and  proud  in  war  would  come  to  the  destruc- 
tion of  Libya :  so  the  destinies  ordained.  This  the 
daughter  of  Saturn  dreading,  and  mindful  of  the  old  war 
which  she  had  the  principal  hand  in  carrying  on  before 
Troy,  in  behalf  of  her  beloved  Argos  ;  nor  as  yet  were  the 
causes  of  her  rage  and  keen  resentment  worn  out  of  her 
mind  ;  the  judgment  of  Paris  dwells  deeply  rooted  in  her 
soul,  the  affront  offered  to  her  neglected  beauty,  the 
detested  [Trojan]  race,  and  the  honours  conferred  on 
ravished  Ganymede :  she,  by  these  things  fired,  having 
tossed  on  the  whole  ocean  the  Trojans,  whom  the  Greeks 
and  merciless  Achilles  had  left,  drove  them  far  from 
Latium ;  and  thus  for  many  years  they,  driven  by  fate, 
roamed  round  every  sea  :  so  vast  a  work  it  was  to  found 
the  Roman  state. 

Scarcely  had  the  Trojans,  losing  sight  of  Sicily,  with 
joy  launched  out  into  the  deep,  and  were  ploughing  the 
foaming  billows  with  their  brazen  prows,  when  Juno, 
harbouring  everlasting  rancour  in  her  breast,  thus  with 
herself :  Shall  I  then,  baffled,  desist  from  my  purpose^ 
nor  have  it  in  my  power  to  turn  away  the  Trojan  king 
from  Italy  ?  because  I  am  restrained  by  fate  !  Was  Pallas 
able  to  burn  the  Grecian  ships  and  bury  themselves  in 
the  ocean,  for  the  offence  of  one  and  the  frenzy  of  Ajax, 
Oileus'  son  ?  She  herself,  hurling  from  the  clouds  J  ove's 
rapid  fire,  both  scattered  their  ships  and  upturned  the 
sea  with  the  winds :  him  too  she  snatched  away  in  a 
whirlwind,  breathing  flames  from  his  transfixed  breast, 
and  dashed  him  against  the  pointed  rock.  But  I,  who 
fiiove  majestic,  the  queen  of  heaven,  both  sister  and  wife 


B.  I.  47  77. 


11 


of  Jove,  must  maintain  a  series  of  wars  with  one  single 
race  for  so  many  years.  And  who  will  henceforth  adore 
Juno's  divinity  or  humbly  offer  sacrifice  on  her  altars  ? 

The  goddess  by  herself  revolving  such  thoughts  in  her 
inflamed  breast  repairs  to  ^olia,  the  native  land  of 
storms,  regions  pregnant  with  boisterous  winds.  Here, 
in  a  vast  cave,  king  ^olus  controls  with  imperial  sway 
the  reluctant  winds  and  sounding  tempests,  and  confines 
them  with  chains  in  prison.  They  roar  indignant  round 
.their  barriers,  filling  the  mountain  with  loud  murmurs, 
^olus  is  seated  on  a  lofty  throne,  wielding  a  sceptre, 
and  assuages  their  fury  and  moderates  their  rage.  For, 
unless  he  did  so,  they,  in  their  rapid  career,  would  bear 
away  sea  and  earth,  and  the  deep  heaven,  and  sweep 
them  through  the  air.  But  the  almighty  Sire,  guarding 
against  this,  hath  pent  them  in  gloomy  caves  and  thrown 
over  them  the  ponderous  weight  of  mountains,  and 
appointed  them  a  king,  who,  by  fixed  laws  and  at  com- 
mand, knows  both  to  curb  them  and  when  to  relax  their 
reins  ;  whom  Juno  then  in  suppliant  words  thus  addressed : 
^olus  (for  the  sire  of  gods  and  the  king  of  men  hath 
given  thee  power  both  to  smooth  the  waves  and  raise 
them  with  the  wind),  a  race  by  me  detested  sails  the 
Tuscan  Sea,  transporting  Ilium  and  its  conquered  gods, 
into  Italy.  Strike  force  into  thy  winds,  overset  and  sink 
the  ships ;  or  drive  them  different  ways  and  strew  the 
ocean  with  carcasses.  I  have  twice  seven  lovely  nymphs, 
the  fairest  of  whom,  Deiopeia,  I  will  join  to  thee  in  firm 
wedlock  and  assign  to  be  thine  own  for  ever,  that  with 
thee  she  may  spend  all  her  years  for  this  service  and 
make  thee  father  of  a  beautiful  offspring. 

To  whom  ^olus  replies :  'Tis  thy  task,  O  queen,  to 
consider  what  you  would  have  done :  on  me  it  is 
incumbent  to  execute  your  commands.    You  conciliate 


12 


B.  I  78-107. 


to  me  whatever  of  power  I  have,  my  sceptre  and  Jove. 
You  grant  me  to  sit  at  the  tables  of  the  gods  and  you 
make  me  lord  of  storms  and  tempests. 

Thus  having  said,  whirling  the  point  of  his  spear,  he 
Struck  the  hollow  mountain's  side  :  and  the  winds,  as  in 
a  formed  battalion,  rush  forth  at  every  vent  and  scour 
over  the  lands  in  a  hurricane.  They  press  upon  the 
ocean  and  at  once,  east  and  south  and  stormy  south- 
west, plough  up  the  whole  deep  from  its  lowest  bottom 
and  roll  vast  billows  to  the  shores.  The  cries  of  the  sea- 
men succeed  and  the  cracking  of  the  cordage.  In  an 
instant  clouds  snatch  the  heavens  and  day  from  the  eyes 
of  the  Trojans :  sable  night  sits  brooding  on  the  sea, 
thunder  roars  from  pole  to  pole,  the  sky  glares  with 
repeated  flashes,  and  all  nature  threatens  them  with 
immediate  death.  Forthwith  Eneas'  limbs  are  relaxed 
with  cold  shuddering  fear.  He  groans  and,  spreading 
out  both  his  hands  to  heaven,  thus  expostulates:  O 
thrice  and  four  times  happy  they  who  had  the  good 
fortune  to  die  before  their  parents*  eyes  under  the  high 
ramparts  of  Troy !  O  thou,  the  bravest  of  the  Grecian 
race,  great  Tydeus*  son,  why  was  I  not  destined  to  fall 
on  the  Trojan  plains  and  pour  out  this  soul  by  thy  right 
hand?  where  stern  Hector  lies  prostrate  by  the  sword  of 
Achilles ;  where  mighty  Sarpedon  [lies]  ;  where  Simois 
rolls  along  so  many  shields  and  helmets  and  bodies  of 
heroes  snatched  away  beneath  its  waters. 

While  uttering  such  words  a  tempest,  roaring  from  the 
north,  strikes  across  the  sail,  and  heaves  the  billows  to 
the  stars.  The  oars  are  shattered ;  then  the  prow  turns 
away,  and  exposes  the  side  to  the  waves.  A  steep  moun- 
tain of  waters  follows  in  a  heap.  These  hang  on  the 
towering  surge ;  to  those  the  wide-yawning  deep  discloses 
the  earth  between  two  waves;  the  whirling  tide  rages 


B.  I.  108-138. 


13 


with  [mingled]  sand.  Three  other  ships  the  south  wind, 
hurrying  away,  throws  on  hidden  rocks ;  rocks  in  the 
midst  of  the  ocean,  which  the  Italians  call  Altars,  a  vast 
ridge  rising  to  the  surface  of  the  sea.  Three  from  the 
deep  the  east  wind  drives  on  shoals  and  flats,  a  piteous 
spectacle  I  and  dashing  on  the  shelves,  it  encloses  them 
with  mounds  of  sand.  Before  the  eyes  of  ^neas  himself, 
a  mighty  billow,  falling  from  the  height,  dashes  against 
the  stern  of  one  which  bore  the  I^ycian  crew,  and  faithful 
Orontes ;  the  pilot  is  tossed  out  and  rolled  headlong,  prone 
[into  the  waves]  ;  but  her  the  driving  surge  thrice  whirls 
around  in  the  same  place,  and  the  rapid  eddy  swallows  up 
in  the  deep.  Then  floating  here  and  there  on  the  vast 
abyss,  are  seen  men,  their  arms  and  planks,  and  the  Trojan 
wealth,  among  the  waves.  Now  the  storm  overpowered 
the  stout  vessel  of  Ilioneus,  now  that  of  brave  Achates, 
and  that  in  which  Abas  sailed,  and  that  in  which  old 
Alethes  :  all,  at  their  loosened  and  disjointed  sides,  receive 
the  hostile  stream,  and  gape  with  chinks. 

Meanwhile  Neptune  perceived  that  the  sea  was  in  great 
uproar  and  confusion,  a  storm  sent  forth,  and  the  depths 
overturned  from  their  lowest  channels.  He,  in  violent 
commotion,  and  looking  forth  from  the  deep,  reared  his 
serene  countenance  above  the  waves  ;  sees  ^neas's  fleet 
scattered  over  the  ocean,  the  Trojans  oppressed  with  the 
waves  and  the  ruin  from  above.  Nor  were  Juno's  wiles 
and  hate  unknown  to  her  brother.  He  calls  to  him  the 
east  and  west  winds  ;  then  thus  addresses  them  :  And  do 
you  thus  presume  upon  your  birth  ?  dare  you,  winds  !  with- 
out my  sovereign  leave,  to  embroil  heaven  and  earth,  and 

raise  such  mountains.    Whom  I         But  first  it  is  right  to 

assuage  the  tumultuous  waves.  A  chastisement  of  another 
nature  from  me  awaits  your  next  ofl'ence.  Fly  apace,  and 
bear  this  message  to  your  king:  That  not  to  him  the 


14 


B.  I  139-169. 


empire  of  the  sea,  and  the  awful  trident,  but  to  me  by  lot 
are  given:  his  dominions  are  the  mighty  rocks,  your 
proper  mansions,  Burns :  in  that  palace  let  king  ^olus 
proudly  boast,  and  reign  in  the  close  prison  of  the  winds. 
^  So  he  speaks,  and,  more  swiftly  than  his  speech, 
smooths  the  swelling  seas,  disperses  the  collected  clouds, 
and  brings  back  the  day.  With  him  Cymothoe,  and 
Triton  with  exerted  might,  heave  the  ships  from  the 
pointed  rock.  He  himself  raised  them  with  his  trident ; 
lays  open  the  vast  sandbanks,  and  calms  the  sea  ;  and  in 
his  light  chariot  glides  along  the  surface  of  the  waves. 
And  as  when  a  sedition  has  perchance  arisen  among  a 
mighty  multitude,  and  the  minds  of  the  ignoble  vulgar 
rage;  now  firebrands,  now  stones  fly;  fury  supplies  them 
with  arms  :  if  then,  by  chance,  they  espy  a  man  revered 
in  piety  and  worth,  they  are  hushed,  and  stand  with  ears 
erect ;  he,  by  eloquence,  rules  their  passions,  and  calms 
their  breasts.  Thus  all  the  raging  tumult  of  the  ocean 
subsides,  as  soon  as  the  sire,  surveying  the  seas,  and 
wafted  through  the  open  sky,  guides  his  steeds,  and 
flying,  gives  the  reins  to  his  easy  chariot. 

The  weary  Trojans  direct  their  course  towards  the 
nearest  snores,  and  make  the  coast  of  Libya.  In  a  long 
recess,  a  station  lies  ;  an  island  forms  it  into  a  harbour  by 
its  jutting  sides,  against  which  every  wave  from  the 
ocean  is  broken,  and  divides  itself  into  receding  curves. 
On  either  side  vast  cliffs,  and  two  twin-like  rocks,  threaten 
the  sky  ;  under  whose  summit  the  waters  all  around  are 
calm  and  still.  Above  is  a  sylvan  scene  with  waving 
woods,  and  a  dark  grove  with  awful  shade  hangs  over. 
Under  the  opposite  front  a  cave  is  of  pendant  rocks, 
within  which  are  fresh  springs,  and  seats  of  living  stone, 
the  recCvSS  of  nymphs.  Here  neither  cables  hold,  nor 
anchors  with  crooked  fluke  moor  the  weather-beaten 


B.  I.  170-  200. 


15 


ships.  To  this  retreat  ^neas  brings  seven  ships,  col- 
lected from  all  his  fleet ;  and  the  Trojans,  longing  much 
for  land,  disembarking,  enjoy  the  wished-for  shore,  and 
stretch  their  brine-drenched  limbs  upon  the  beach. 
Then  first  Achates  struck  spark  from  a  flint,  received  the 
fire  ia  leaves,  round  it  applied  dry  combustible  matter, 
and  instantly  blew  up  a  flame  from  the  fuel.  Then, 
spent  with  toil  and  hunger,  they  produce  their  grain, 
damaged  by  the  sea  water,  and  the  instruments  of  Ceres ; 
and  prepare  to  dry  over  the  fire,  and  to  grind  with  stones, 
their  rescued  corn.  Meanwhile  ^neas  climbs  a  rock, 
and  takes  a  prospect  of  the  wide  ocean  all  around,  if,  by 
any  means,  he  can  descry  any  [man  like]  Antheus 
tossed  by  the  wind,  and  the  Phrygian  galleys,  or  Capys, 
or  the  arms  of  Caicus,  on  the  lofty  deck.  He  sees  no 
ship  in  view,  but  three  stags  straying  on  the  shore: 
these  the  whole  herd  follow,  and  are  feeding  through 
the  valley  in  a  long-extended  train.  Here  he  stopped 
short,  and  snatching  his  bow  and  swift  arrows,  (weapons 
which  the  faithful  Achates  bore,)  first  prostrates  the 
leaders,  bearing  their  heads  high  with  branching  horns ; 
next  the  vulgar  throng  ;  and  disperses  the  whole  herd, 
driving  them  with  darts  through  the  leafy  woods.  Nor 
desists  he,  till  conqueror  he  stretches  seven  huge  deer 
on  the  ground,  and  equals  their  number  with  his  ships. 
Hence  he  returns  to  the  port,  and  shares  them  amongst 
all  his  companions.  Then  the  hero  divides  the  wine 
which  the  good  Acestes  had  stowed  in  casks  on  the 
Sicilian  shore,  and  given  them  at  parting,  and  with  these 
words  cheers  their  saddened  hearts :  O  companions, 
who  have  sustained  severer  ills  than  these,  (for  we  are 
not  strangers  to  former  days  of  adversity,)  to  these,  too, 
God  will  grant  a  termination.  You  have  approached 
both  Scylla's  fury,  and  those  deep  roaring  rocks  ;  you  are 


16 


B.  I.  201-229. 


unacquainted  with  the  dens  of  the  Cyclops :  resume  thee 
your  courage,  and  dismiss  your  desponding  fears ;  per- 
haps hereafter  it  may  delight  you  to  remember  these 
sufferings.  Through  various  mischances,  through  so 
many  perilous  adventures,  we  steer  to  Latium,  where 
the  Fates  give  us  the  prospect  of  peaceful  settlements. 
There  Troy's  kingdom  is  allowed  once  more  to  rise. 
Persevere,  and  reserve  yourselves  for  prosperous  days. 
So  he  says  in  words ;  and  oppressed  with  heavy  cares, 
wears  the  looks  of  hope,  buries  deep  anguish  in  his 
breast. 

They  address  themselves  to  the  spoil  and  future  feast : 
tear  the  skin  from  the  ribs,  and  lay  the  flesh  bare.  Some 
cut  into  parts,  and  fix  on  spits  the  quivering  limbs : 
others  place  the  brazen  caldrons  on  the  shore,  and  pre- 
pare the  fires.  Then  they  repair  their  strength  with  food, 
and,  stretched  along  the  grass,  regale  themselves  with 
old  wine  and  fat  venison.  After  hunger  was  taken  away 
by  banquets,  and  the  viands  removed,  in  long  discourse 
they  inquire  after  their  lost  companions,  in  suspense  be- 
tween hope  and  fear,  whether  to  believe  them  yet  alive, 
or  that  they  have  finished  their  destiny,  and  no  longer 
hear  when  called.  Above  the  rest,  the  pious  ^neas, 
within  himself,  bemoans  now  the  loss  of  the  active  Orontes, 
now  of  Amycus,  and  then  the  cruel  fate  of  lyycus,  with 
valiant  Gyas,  and  valiant  Cloanthus. 

And  now  there  was  an  end  [of  discourse]  ;  when  Jove 
looking  down  from  the  lofty  sky  upon  the  sail-flown  sea, 
and  the  lands  lying  at  rest,  with  the  shores  and  the  nations 
dispersed  abroad  ;  thus  stood  on  the  pinnacle  of  heaven, 
and  fixed  his  eyes  on  Libya's  realms.  To  him,  revolving 
such  cares  in  his  mind,  Venus,  in  mournful  mood,  her 
bright  eyes  bedimmed  with  tears,  addresses  herself :  O 
thou,  who  with  eternal  sway  rulest,  and  with  thy  thunder 


B.  I.  230-259. 


17 


overawest,  the  affairs  of  both  gods  and  men,  what  so  high 
offence  against  thee  could  my  ^neas  or  the  Trojans  be 
guilty  of,  that,  after  having  suffered  so  many  deaths,  they 
must  be  shut  out  from  all  the  world  on  account  of  Italy? 
Surely  you  promised,  that  in  some  future  age,  after  cir- 
cling years,  the  Romans  should  descend  from  them, 
powerful  leaders  spring  from  the  blood  of  Teucer  re- 
stored, who  should  rule  the  sea,  the  nations  with  absolute 
sway.  Father  !  why  is  thy  purpose  changed  ?  I,  indeed, 
was  solacing  myself  with  this  promise  under  Troy's  fall 
and  sad  ruin,  w^ith  fates  balancing  contrary  fates.  Now 
the  same  fortune  still  pursues  them,  after  they  have  been 
driven  with  such  variety  of  woes.  Great  king,  what  end 
to  their  labours  wilt  thou  give?  Antenor,  escaped  from 
amidst  the  Greeks,  could  with  safety  penetrate  the  lUy- 
rian  gulf,  and  the  inmost  realms  of  Iviburnia,  and  overpass 
the  springs  of  Timavus  ;  whence,  through  nine  months, 
with  loud  echoing  from  the  mountain,  it  bursts  away  a 
sea  impetuous,  and  sweeps  the  fields  with  a  roaring  deluge. 
Yet  there  he  built  the  city  of  Padua,  established  a  Trojan 
settlement,  gave  the  nation  a  name,  and  set  up  the  arms 
of  Troy.  Now  in  calm  peace  composed  he  rests:  we, 
thy  own  progeny,  whom  thou  by  thy  nod  ordain  est  the 
throne  of  heaven  (oh,  woe  unutterable !)  having  lost 
our  ships,  are  betrayed,  driven  hither  and  thither  far 
from  the  Italian  coast,  to  gratify  the  malice  of  one.  Are 
these  the  honours  of  piety  ?  is  it  thus  thou  replacest  us 
on  the  throne  ? 

The  sire  of  gods  and  men,  smiling  upon  her,  with  that 
'aspect  wherewith  he  clears  the  tempestuous  sky,  gently 
kissed  his  daughter's  lips ;  then  thus  replies :  Cytherea, 
cease  from  fear :  immovable  to  thee  remain  the  fates  of 
thy  people.  Thou  shalt  see  the  city  and  promised  walls 
of  I^avinium  and  shalt  raise  magnanimous  ^neas  aloft  to 


18 


B.  I.  260-29t 


the  Stars  of  heaven  ;  nor  is  my  purpose  changed.    In  Italy 
he  (for  I  will  tell  thee,  since  this  care  lies  gnawing  at  thy 
heart,  and  tracing  farther  back,  I  will  reveal  the  secrets 
of  fate)  shall  wage  a  mighty  war,  crush  a  stubborn  nation, 
and  establish  laws  and  cities  to  his  people,  till  the  third 
summer  shall  see  him  reigning  in  lyatium,  and  three 
winters  pass  after  he  has  subdued  the  Rutulians.  But 
the  boy  Ascanius,  who  has  now  the  surname  of  liilus 
(Ilus  he  was,  while  the  empire  of  Ilium  flourished),  shall 
measure  with  his  reign  full  thirty  great  circles  of  revolv- 
ing months,  transfer  the  seat  of  his  empire  from  L^avi- 
nium,  and  strongly  fortify  Alba  I^onga.    Here  again,  for 
full  three  hundred  years,  the  sceptre  shall  be  swayed  by 
Hector's  line,  until  Ilia,  a  royal  priestess,  impregnated  by 
Mars,  shall  bear  two  infants  at  a  birth.    Then  Romulus, 
exulting  in  the  tawny  hide  of  the  wolf  his  nurse,  shall 
take  upon  him  the  rule  of  the  nation,  buUd  a  city  sacred 
to  Mars,  and  from  his  own  name  call  the  people  Romans. 
To  them  I  fix  neither  limits  nor  duration  of  empire; 
dominion  have  I  given  them  without  end.    And  even 
sullen  Juno,  who  now,  through  jealous  fear,  creates  end- 
less disturbance  to  sea  and  earth  and  heaven,  shall  change 
her  counsels  for  the  better,  and  join  with  me  in  befriend- 
ing the  Romans,  lords  of  the  world,  and  the  nation  of  the 
gown.    Such  is  my  pleasure.    An  age  shall  come,  after  a 
course  of  years,  when  the  house  of  Assaracus  shall  bring 
under  subjection  Phthia  and  renowned  Mycenae,  and 
reign  over  vanquished  Argos.    A  Trojan  shall  be  born  of 
illustrious  race,  Caesar,  who  shall  bound  his  empire  by 
the  ocean,  his  fame  by  the  Stars,  Julius  his  name,  from 
great  liilus  derived.    Him,  loaded  with  the  spoils  of  the 
Bast,  you  shall  receive  to  heaven  at  length,  having  seen 
*  an  end  of  all  your  cares  :  he  too  shall  be  invoked  by  vows 
and  prayers.    Then,  wars  having  ceased,  fierce  nations 


B.  I.  292-320. 


19 


shall  soften  into  peace.  Hoary  Faith,  Vesta  and  Quiri- 
nus,  with  his  brother  Remus,  shall  administer  justice. 
The  dreadful  gates  of  war  shall  be  shut  with  close  bolts  of 
iron.  Within  impious  Fury,  sitting  on  horrid  arms,  and 
his  hands  bound  behind  him  with  a  hundred  brazen  chains, 
in  hideous  rage  shall  gnash  his  bloody  jaws. 

He  said,  and  from  on  high  sent  down  Maia's  son,  that 
the  coasts  of  Libya  and  the  new  towers  of  Carthage  might 
be  open  hospitably  to  receive  the  Trojans ;  lest  Dido, 
ignorant  of  heaven's  decree,  should  shut  them  out  from 
her  ports.  He,  on  the  steerage  of  his  wings,  flies  through 
the  expanded  sky,  and  speedily  alighted  on  the  coasts  of 
lyibya.  And  now  he  puts  his  orders  in  execution  ;  and,  at 
the  will  of  the  god,  the  Carthaginians  lay  aside  the  fierce- 
ness of  their  hearts :  the  queen,  especially,  entertains 
thoughts  of  peace,  and  a  benevolent  disposition  towards 
the  Trojans. 

But  pious  ^neas,  by  night  revolving  many  things,  re- 
solved, as  soon  as  cheerful  day  arose,  to  set  out,  and  to 
reconnoitre  the  unknown  country,  on  what  coasts  he  was 
driven  by  the  wind ;  who  are  the  inhabitants,  whether 
men  or  wild  beasts,  (for  he  sees  nothing  but  uncultivated 
grounds,)  and  inform  his  friends  of  his  discoveries.  Within 
a  winding  grove,  under  a  hollow  rock,  he  secretly  disposed 
his  fleet,  fenced  round  with  trees  and  gloomy  shades: 
himself  marches  forth,  attended  by  Achates  alone,  brand- 
ishing in  his  hand  two  javelins  of  broad-pointed  steel. 
To  whom,  in  the  midst  of  a  wood,  his  mother  presents 
herself,  wearing  the  mien  and  attire  of  a  virgin,  and  the 
arms  of  a  Spartan  maid  ;  or  resembling  Thracian  Harpa- 
lyce,  when  she  tires  her  steeds,  and  in  her  course  outflies 
the  swift  Hebrus :  for,  huntress-like,  she  had  hung  from 
her  shoulders  a  light  bow,  and  suffered  h  er  hair  to  wanton 
in  the  wind ;  bare  to  the  knee,  with  her  flowing  robes 


20 


B.  I.  321-350. 


gathered  in  a  knot.    Then  first,  Pray,  youths,  she  says, 
inform  me  if  by  chance  ye  have  seen  any  of  my  sisters 
wandering  this  way,  equipped  with  a  quiver,  and  the  skin 
of  a  spotted  lynx,  or  with  full  cry  urging  the  chase  of  a 
foaming  boar.  Thus  Venus,  and  thus  Venus'  son  replied  : 
Of  your  sisters  not  one  has  been  heard  or  seen  by  me.  O 
virgin,  by  what  name  shall  !  address  thee?  for  thou  wear- 
est  not  the  looks  of  a  mortal,  nor  sounds  thy  voice  human. 
O  thou  a  goddess  surely  !    Are  you  the  sister  of  Phoebus, 
or  one  of  the  race  of  the  nymphs?    Oh!  be  propitious, 
and  whoever  you  are,  ease  our  anxious  minds,  and  inform 
us  under  what  climate,  on  what  region  of  the  globe,  we  at 
length  are  thrown.    We  wander  strangers  both  to  the 
country  and  the  inhabitants,  driven  upon  this  coast  by 
furious  winds  and  swelling  seas.    So  shall  many  a  victim 
^  fall  a  sacrifice  at  thine  altars  by  our  right  hand.  Then 
Venus :  I,  indeed,  deem  not  myself  worthy  of  such  honour. 
It  is  the  custom  for  the  Tyrian  virgins  to  wear  a  quiver, 
and  bind  the  leg  thus  high  with  a  purple  buskin.  You 
see  the  kingdom  of  Carthage,  a  Tyrian  people,  and  Age- 
nor's  city.    But  the  country  is  that  of  Libya,  a  race  in- 
vincible in  war.    The  kingdom  is  ruled  by  Dido,  who  fled 
hither  from  Tyre,  to  shun  her  brother's  hate  :  tedious  is 
the  relation  of  her  wrongs,  and  intricate  the  circumstances ; 
but  I  shall  trace  the  principal  heads.    Her  husband  was 
Sichseus,  the  richest  of  the  Phoenicians  in  land,  and 
passionately  beloved  by  his  unhappy  spouse.    Her  father 
had  given  her  to  him  in  her  virgin  bloom,  and  joined  her 
In  wedlock  with  the  first  connubial  rites  :  but  her  brother 
Pygmalion  then  possessed  the  throne  of  Tyre  ;  atrociously 
wicked  beyond  all  mortals.    Between  them  hatred  arose. 
He,  impious,  and  blinded  with  the  love  of  gold,  having 
taken  Sichoeus  by  surprise,  secretly  assassmates  him  be- 
fore the  altar,  regardless  of  his  sister's  great  affection. 


B.I  351-387. 


21 


Long  he  kept  the  deed  concealed,  and  wicked,  forging 
many  lies,  amused  the  heart-sick,  loving  [queen]  with 
vain  hope.    But  the  ghost  of  her  unburied  husband  ap- 
peared to  her  in  a  dream,  lifting  up  his  visage  amazingly 
pale  and  ghastly  :  he  opened  to  her  view  the  bloody  altars, 
and  his  breast  transfixed  with  the  sword,  and  detected  all 
tne  hidden  villainy  of  the  house  ;  then  exhorts  her  to 
iiasten  flight,  and  quit  her  native  country  ;  and,  to  aid 
her  flight,  reveals  treasures  ancient  in  the  earth,  an 
unknown  mass  of  gold  and  silver.    Dido,  roused  by  this 
awful  messenger,  provided  friends,  and  prepared  to  fly. 
They  assemble,  who  either  had  mortal  hatred  or  violent 
dread  of  the  tyrant :  what  ships  by  chance  are  ready,  they 
seize  in  haste,  and  load  with  gold.    The  wealth  of  the 
covetous  Pygmalion  is  conveyed  over  sea.    A  woman  is 
guide  of  the  exploit.    Thither  they  came,  where  now  you 
will  see  the  stately  walls  and  rising  towers  of  a  new-built 
Carthage,  and  bought  as  much  ground  as  they  could 
enclose  with  a  bull's  hide,  called  Byrsa,  in  commemora- 
tion of  the  deed.    But  [say]  now,  who  are  you  ?  or  from 
what  coasts  you  came,  or  whither -are  you  bending  your 
way  ?   To  these  her  demands,  the  hero,  with  heavy  sighs, 
and  slowly  raising  his  words  from  the  bottom  of  his  breast, 
[thus  replies,]  If  I,  O  goddess  !  tracing  from  their  first 
source,  shall  pursue,  and  you  have  leisure  to  hear,  the 
annals  of  our  woes,  the  evening  star  will  first  shut  heaven's 
gates  upon  the  expiring  day.    Driven  over  a  length  of 
seas  from  ancient  Troy  (if  the  name  of  Troy  hath  by 
chance  reached  your  ears),  a  tempest,  by  its  wonted 
chance,  threw  us  on  this  Ivibyan  coast.    I  am  ^neas  the 
pious,  renowned  by  fame  above  the  skies,  who  carry  with 
me  in  my  fleet  the  gods  I  snatched  away  from  the  enemy. 
I  seek  my  country,  Italy  ;  and  my  descendants  sprang 
from  Jove  supreme.    With  twice  ten  ships  I  embarked  on 


22 


B.  I.  382-4ia 


the  Phrygian  Sea,  having  followed  the  destinies  vouch- 
safed me,  my  goddess-mother  pointing  out  the  way ;  seven, 
with  much  ado,  are  saved,  torn  and  shattered  by  waves 
and  wind.    Myself,  a  stranger,  poor  and  destitute,  wander 
,through  the  deserts  of  Africa,  banished  from  Europe  and 
from  Asia.    Venus,  unable  to  bear  his  further  complaints, 
Ws  interrupted  in  the  midst  of  his  grief:  Whoever  you 
may  be,  I  trust  you  live  not  unbefriended  by  the  powers 
of  heaven,  who  have  arrived  at  a  Tyrian  city.    But  do  you 
forthwith  bend  your  course  directly  to  the  palace  of  the 
queen  :  for,  that  your  friends  are  returned,  and  your  ships 
saved,  and  by  a  turn  of  the  north  wind  wafted  into  a  secure 
harbour,  I  pronounce  to  thee  with  assurance,  unless  my 
parents,  fond  of  a  lying  art,  have  in  vain  taught  me  divi- 
nation.   See  these  twelve  swans  exulting  in  a  body,  whom 
the  bird  of  Jove,  having  glided  from  the  ethereal  region, 
was  chasing  through  the  open  air :  now,  in  a  long  train, 
they  seem  either  to  choose  their  ground,  or  to  hover  over 
the  place  they  have  already  chosen.    As  they,  returning, 
sportive  clap  their  rustling  wings,  wheel  about  the  heavens 
in  a  troop,  and  raise  their  melodious  notes  ;  just  so  your 
ships  and  youthful  crew,  either  are  possessed  of  the  har- 
bour, or  are  entering  the  port  with  full  sail.  Proceed, 
then,  and  pursue  your  way  where  this  path  directs. 

She  said,  and  turning  away,  shone  radiant  with  her 
rosy  neck,  and  from  her  head  ambrosial  locks  breathed 
divine  fragrance  :  her  robe  hung  flowing  to  the  ground, 
and  by  her  gait  the  goddess  stood  confessed.  The  hero, 
soon  as  he  knew  his  mother,  with  these  accents  pursued 
her  as  she  fled :  Why  so  oft  dost  thou  too  cruelly  mock 
thy  son  with  vain  shapes?  why  is  not  granted  me  to  join 
my  hand  to  thine,  and  to  hear  and  answer  thee  by  turns 
in  words  sincere  and  undissembled  ?  Thus  he  expostu- 
lates with  her,  and  directs  his  course  to  the  walls.  But 


B.  I.  411-440. 


25 


Venus  screened  them  on  their  way  with  dim  clonds,  and 
the  goddess  spread  around  them  a  thick  veil  of  mist,  that 
none  might  see,  or  touch,  or  cause  them  interruption,  or 
inquire  into  the  reasons  of  their  coming.  She  herself 
wings  her  way  sublime  to  Paphos,  and  with  joy  revisits 
her  seats  ;  where,  sacred  to  her  honour,  is  a  temple  and  a 
"hundred  altars  smoke  with  Sabean  incense,  and  are 
fragrant  with  fresh  garlands. 

Meanwhile  they  urged  their  way  where  the  path 
directs.    And  now  they  were  ascending  the  hill  that 
hangs  over  a  great  part  of  the  town,  and  from  above  sur- 
veys its  opposite  towers,  -^neas  admires  the  mass  of 
buildings,  once  cottages :   he  admires  the  gates,  the 
bustle  and  the  paved  streets.    The  Tyrians  warmly  ply 
the  work  :  some  extend  the  walls,  and  raise  a  tower  to 
push  along  unwieldy  stones  ;  some  choose  out  the  ground 
for  a  private  building,  and  enclose  it  with  a  trench.  Some 
choose  [a  place  for]  the  courts  of  justice,  for  the  magis- 
trates' [halls]  and  the  venerable  senate.    Here  some  are 
digging  ports ;  there  others  are  laying  the  foundations 
for  lofty  theatres,  and  hewing  huge  columns  from  the 
rocks,  the  lofty  decorations  of  future  scenes.    Such  their 
toil  as  in  summer's  prime  employs  the  bees  amidst  the 
flowery  fields  under  the  sun,  when  they  lead  forth  the 
full-grown  swarms  of  their  race,  or  when  they  press  close 
the  liquid  honey  and  distend  the  cells  with  sweet  nectar ; 
or  when  they  disburden  those  that  come  home  loaded,  or 
in  formed  battalion,  drive  the  inactive  flock  of  drones 
from  the  hives.    The  work  is  hotly  plied,  and  the  fra- 
grant honey  smells  strongly  of  thyme.    O  happy  ye, 
whose  walls  now  rise  !  ^neas  says,  and  lifts  his  eyes  to 
the  turrets  of  the  city.    Shrouded  in  a  cloud  (a  marvel 
to  be  told  !),  he  passes  amidst  the  multitude,  and  mingles 
with  the  throng,  nor  is  seen  by  any.    In  the  centre  of 
2 


24 


B  I  441-470. 


the  city  was  a  grove,  most  delightful  in  shade,  where 
first  the  Carthaginians,  driven  by  wind  and  wave,  dug  up 
the  head  of  a  sprightly  courser,  an  omen  which  royal 
yttno  showed  :  for  by  this  [she  signified],  that  the  nation 
wa5  tq  be  renowned  for  war,  brave  and  victorious  through 
iigeiiTf  ^re  Sidonian  Dido  built  to  Juno  a  stately  temple, 
enriched  with  gifts,  and  the  presence  of  the  goddese ; 
whosr  brazen  threshold  rose  on  steps,  the  beams  were 
t)ound  with  brass,  and  the  hinge  creaked  beneath  brazen 
gates.    In  this  grove  the  view  of  an  unexpected  scene 
first  abated  the  fear  [of  the  Trojans]  :  here  ^neas  first 
dared  to  hope  for  redress,  and  to  conceive  better  hopes  of 
his  afflicted  state.    For  while  he  surveys  every  object  in 
the  spacious  temple,  waiting  the  queen's  arrival ;  while 
he  is  musing  with  wonder  on  the  fortune  of  the  city  ;  and 
[compares]  the  skill  of  the  artists  and  their  elaborate 
works,  he  sees  the  Trojan  battles  [delineated]  in  order, 
and  the  war  now  known  by  fame  over  all  the  world  ;  the 
sons  of  Atreus,  Priam  and  Achilles  implacable  to  both. 
He  stood  still ;  and,  with  tears  in  his  eyes.  What  place. 
Achates,  what  country  on  the  globe  is  not  full  of  our 
disaster?    See  Priam!   even  here  praiseworthy  deeds 
meet  with  due  reward :  here  are  tears  for  misfortunes 
and  the  breasts  are  touched  with  human  woes.  Disrniss 
your  fears  :  this  fame  of  ours  will  bring  thee  some  relief. 
Thus  he  speaks,  and  feeds  his  mind  with  the  empty  repre- 
sentations, heaving  many  a  sigh,  and  bathes  his  visage 
in  floods  of  tei^   For  he  beheld  how,  on  one  hand,  the 
warrior  Greeks  were  flying  round  the  walls  of  Troy, 
whfle  the  Trojan  youth  closely  pursued ;  on  the  other 
hand,  the  Trojans  [were  flying],  while  plumed  Achilles, 
in  his  chariot,  pressed  on  their  rear.    Not  far  from  that 
scene,  weeping,  he  espies  the  tents  of  Rhesus,  with  their 
snow-white  veils;  which,  betrayed  by  the  first  sleep, 


B.  I.  471-501. 


25 


cruel  Diomede  plundered,  drenched  in  much  blood,  and 
led  away  his  fiery  steeds  to  the  [Grecian]  camp,  before 
they  had  tasted  the  pasture  of  Troy,  or  drank  of  Xanthus. 
In  another  part,  Troilus,  flying  after  the  loss  of  his  arms, 
ill-fated  youth,  and  unequally  matched  with  Achilles  !  is 
dragged  by  his  horses,  and  from  the  empty  chariot  hangs 
supine,  yet  grasping  the  reins ;  his  neck  and  hair  trail 
along  the  ground,  and  the  dusty  plain  is  traced  by  the 
inverted  spear.  Meanwhile  the  Trojan  matrons  were 
marching  to  the  temple  of  adverse  Pallas,  with  their  hair 
dishevelled,  and  were  bearing  the  robe,  suppliantly 
mournful,  and  beating  their  bosoms  with  their  hands. 
The  goddess  turned  away,  kept  her  eyes  fixed  on  the 
ground.  Thrice  had  Achilles  dragged  Hector  round  the 
walls  of  Troy,  and  was  selling  his  breathless  corpse  for 
gold.  Then,  indeed,  ^neas  sent  forth  a  deep  groan  from 
the  bottom  of  his  breast,  when  he  saw  the  spoils,  the 
chariot,  and  the  very  body  of  his  friend,  and  Priam 
stretching  forth  his  feeble  hands.  Himself,  too,  he 
recognised  mingled  with  the  Grecian  leaders,  and  the 
Eastern  bands,  and  the  arms  of  swarthy  Memnon. 
Furious  Penthesilea  leads  on  her  troops  of  Amazons, 
with  their  crescent  shields,  and  burns  amidst  the  thickest 
ranks.  Below  her  exposed  breast  the  heroine  had  girt  a 
golden  belt,  and  the  virgin  warrior  dares  even  to 
encounter  with  men. 

These  wondrous  scenes,  while  the  Trojan  prince  sur- 
veys, while  he  is  lost  in  thought,  and  in  one  gaze  stands 
unmoved ;  Queen  Dido,  of  surpassing  beauty,  advanced 
to  the  temple,  attended  by  a  numerous  retinue  of  youth. 
As  on  the  banks  of  Kurotas,  or  on  Mount  Cynthus'  top, 
Diana  leads  the  circular  dances,  round  whom  a  numerous 
train  of  mountain  nymphs  play  in  rings ;  she  bears  her 
quiver  on  her  shoulder,  and  moving  majestic,  she  towers 


26 


B.  I.  502-531 


above  the  other  goddesses,  while  silent  raptures  thrill 
Latona's  bosom  ;  such  Dido  was,  and  such,  with  cheerful 
grace,  she  passed  amidst  her  train,  urging  forward  the 
labour  and  her  future  kingdom.  Then  at  the  gate  of  the 
goddess,  in  the  middle  of  the  temple's  dome,  she  took 
her  seat,  surrounded  with  her  guards,  and  raised  aloft  on 
a  throne.  [Here]  she  dispensed  justice  and  laws  to  h^r 
subjects,  and,  in  equal  portions,  distributed  their  tasks, 
or  settled  them  by  lot ;  when  suddenly  ^neas  sees,  ad- 
vancing with  a  vast  concourse,  Antheus,  Sergestus,  brave 
Cloanthus,  and  other  Trojans,  whom  a  black  storm  had 
tossed  up  and  down  the  sea,  and  driven  to  other  far-dis- 
tant shores.  ^  At  once  he  was  amazed,  at  once  Achates 
was  struck,  and  between  joy  and  fear  both  ardently 
longed  to  join  hands ;  but  the  uncertainty  of  the  event 
perplexes  their  minds.  They  carry  on  their  disguise, 
and,  shrouded  under  the  bending  cloud,  watch  to  learn 
the  fortune  of  their  friends  ;  on  what  coast  they  left  the 
fleet,  and  on  what  errand  they  came  :  for  a  select  num- 
ber had  come  from  all  the  ships  to  sue  for  grace,  and, 
with  mingled  voices,  approached  the  temple. 

Having  gained  admission  and  liberty  to  speak  in  the 
presence,  Ilioneus  their  chief,  with  mind  composed, 
thus  began :  O  queen,  to  whom  Jove  has  granted  to 
found  this  rising  city  and  to  curb  proud  nations  with  just 
laws,  we  Trojans  forlorn,  tossed  by  winds  over  every  sea, 
implore  thee  :  keep  from  our  ships  the  merciless  flames ; 
spare  a  pious  race,  and  propitiously  regard  our  distresses. 
We  are  not  come  either  to  ravage  with  the  sword  ths) 
Libyan  abodes,  or  to  seize  and  bear  away  the  plunder  to 
our  ships.  We  have  no  such  hostile  intention,  nor  does 
such  pride  of  heart  become  the  vanquished.  There  is  a 
place  called  by  the  Greeks  Hesperia,  an  ancient  land,  re- 
nowned for  martial  deeds  and  fruitful  soil ;  the  CE)no- 


B.  L  532-560. 


27 


trians  possessed  it  once :  now  fame  is  that  their  descend- 
ants call  the  nations  Italy,  from  their  leader's  name ; 
hither  our  course  was  bent,  when  suddenly  tempestuous 
Orion  rising  from  the  main,  drove  us  on  hidden  shallows, 
and  with  southern  blasts  fiercely  sporting,  tossed  us  hither 
and  thither  over  waves,  and  over  pathless  rocks,  over- 
whelmed by  the  briny  deep  :  hither  we  few  have  floated 
to  your  coasts.  What  a  race  of  men  is  this  ?  what  coun- 
try so  barbarous  to  allow  such  manners?  We  are  denied 
the  hospitality  of  the  shore.  In  arms  they  rise,  and  for- 
bid our  setting  foot  on  the  first  verge  of  land.  If  you  set 
at  nought  tL  human  kind,  and  the  arms  of  mortals,  yet 
know  the  gods  have  a  mindful  regard  to  right  and  wrong. 
We  had  for  our  king  ^neas,  than  whom  no  one  was  more 
just  in  piety,  none  more  signalized  in  war  and  in  martial 
achievements ;  whom,  if  the  Fates  preserve,  if  he 
breathe  the  vital  air,  and  do  not  yet  rest  with  the  ruth- 
less shades,  neither  shall  we  despair,  nor  you  repent  your 
having  been  the  first  in  challenging  to  acts  of  kindness. 
We  have  likewise  cities  and  arms  in  Sicily,  and  the  illus- 
trious Acestes  is  of  Trojan  extraction.  Permit  us  to 
bring  to  shore  our  wind-beaten  fleet,  and  from  your 
woods  to  choose  [trees  for]  planks,  and  to  refit  our  oars  ; 
that,  if  it  be  granted  to  bend  our  course  to  Italy,  upon 
the  recovery  of  our  prince  and  friends,  we  may  joyfully 
set  out  thither,  and  make  the  I^atian  shore.  But  if  our 
safety  has  perished,  and  thou,  O  father  of  the  Trojans, 
the  best  of  men  !  now  liest  buried  in  the  Libyan  Sea,  and 
ao  further  hope  of  liilus  remains,  we  may  at  least  repair 
to  the  straits  of  Sicily,  and  the  settlement  there  prepared 
for  us,  (whence  we  were  driven  hither,)  and  visit  king 
Acestes.  So  spoke  Ilioneus  ;  at  the  same  time,  the  other 
Trojans  murmured  their  consent. 


28 


B.  I.  561-590. 


Then  Dido,  with  downcast  looks,  thus  in  brief  replies : 
Trojans,  banish  fear  from  your  breasts,  lay  your  cares 
aside.  My  hard  fate,  and  the  infancy  of  my  kingdom, 
force  me  to  take  such  measures  and  to  secure  my  fron- 
tiers with  guards  around.  Who  is  stranger  to  the  ^neian 
race,  the  city  of  Troy,  her  heroes,  and  their  valorous 
Seeds,  and  to  the  devastations  of  so  renowned  a  war? 
We  Carthaginians  do  not  possess  hearts  that  are  so  ob- 
durate and  insensible,  nor  yokes  the  sun  his  steeds  so  far 
away  from  our  Tyrian  city.  Whether  Hesperia  the 
greater,  and  the  country  where  Saturn  reigned,  or  ye 
choose  [to  visit]  Bryx'  coast  and  king  Acestes,  I  will 
dismiss  you  safe  with  assistance,  and  support  you  with 
my  wealth.  Or  will  you  settle  with  me  in  this  realm  ? 
The  city  which  I  am  building  shall  be  yours  :  draw  your 
ships  ashore  ;  Trojan  and  Tyrian  shall  be  treated  by  me 
with  no  distinction.  And  would  that  your  prince  ^neas 
too  were  here,  driven  by  the  same  wind  !  However,  I 
will  send  trusty  messengers  along  the  coasts,  with  order 
to  search  I^ibya's  utmost  bounds,  if  he  is  thrown  out  to 
wander  in  some  wood  or  city.  • 

Animated  by  these  words,  brave  Achates  and  father 
^neas  had  long  impatiently  desired  to  break  from  the 
cloud.  Achates  first  addressed  ^neas :  Goddess-born, 
what  purpose  now  arises  in  your  mind  ?  You  see  all  is 
safe  ;  your  fleet  and  friends  restored.  One  alone  is  miss- 
ing, whom  we  ourselves  beheld  sunk  in  the  midst  of  the 
waves:  everything  else  agrees  with  your  mother's  pre- 
diction. He  had  scarcely  spoken,  when  suddenly  the 
circumambient  cloud  splits  asunder,  and  dissolves  into 
the  open  air.  ^neas  stood  forth,  and  in  the  clear  light 
shone  conspicuous,  in  countenance  and  form  resembling 
a  god :  for  Venus  herself  had  breathed  upon  her  son 
graceful  locks,  and  the  radiant  bloom  of  youth,  and 


p.  I.  591-621. 


29 


breathed  a  sprightly  lustre  on  his  eyes :  such  beauty  as 
the  hand  superadds  to  ivory,  or  where  silver  or  Parian 
marble  is  enchased  with  yellow  gold. 

Then  suddenly  addressing  the  queen,  he,  to  the  sur- 
prise of  all,  thus  begins  :  I,  whom  you  seek,  am  present 
before  you ;  Trojan  ^neas,  snatched  from  the  Libyan 
..waves.  O  thou,  who  alone  hast  commiserated  Troy's  un- 
"utterable  calamities  !  who  in  thy  town  and  palace  dost 
associate  us,  a  remnant  saved  from  the  Greeks,  who  have 
now  been  worn  out  by  woes  in  every  shape,  both  by  sea 
and  land,  and  are  in  want  of  all  things !  to  repay  thee 
due  thanks,  great  queen,  exceeds  the  power  not  only  of 
us,  but  of  all  the  Dardan  race,  wherever  dispersed  ovef 
the  world.  The  gods  (if  any  powers  divine  regard  the 
pious,  if  justice  anywhere  exists,  and  a  mind  conscious 
of  its  own  virtue)  shall  yield  thee  a  just  recompence. 
What  age  was  so  happy  as  to  produce  thee  ?  who  were 
the  parents  of  so  illustrious  an  offspring?  While  rivers 
run  into  the  sea,  while  shadows  move  round  the  conve:^ 
mountains,  while  heaven  feeds  the  stars ;  your  honour, 
name,  and  praise  [with  me]  shall  ever  live,  to  whatever 
climes  I  am  called.  This  said,  he  embraces  his  friend 
Ilioneus  with  his  right  hand,  and  Serestus  with  his  left : 
then  the  rest,  the  heroic  Gyas,  and  the  heroic  Cloanthus. 

Sidonian  Dido  stood  astonished,  first  at  the  presence  of 
the  hero,  then  at  his  signal  sufferings,  and  thus  her  speech 
addressed :  What  hard  fate,  O  goddess-born,  pursues  thee 
through  such  mighty  dangers !  what  power  drives  thee  on 
this  barbarous  coast?  Are  you  that  ^neas,  whom,  by 
Phrygian  Simois'  stream,  fair  Venus  bore  to  Trojan  An- 
chises?  And  now,  indeed,  I  call  to  mind  that  Teucerp 
expelled  from  his  native  country,  came  to  Sidon  in  quest 
of  a  new  kingdom,  by  the  aid  of  Belus.  My  father  Belus 
then  reaped  the  soil  of  wealthy  Cyprus,  and  held  it  in 


30 


B  1.  622-654. 


subjection  to  his  victorious  arms.  Ever  since  that  time 
I  have  been  acquainted  with  the  fate  of  Troy,  with  your 
name,  and  the  Grecian  kings.  The  enemy  himself  extolled 
the  Trojans  with  distinguished  praise,  and  with  pleasure 
traced  his  descent  from  the  ancient  Trojan  race.  Come 
then,  youths,  enter  our  walls.  Me,  too,  through  a  series 
of  labours  tossed,  a  like  fortune  has  at  length  doomed  to 
settle  in  this  land.  Not  unacquainted  with  misfortune 
[in  my  own  person],  I  have  learned  to  succour  the  dis- 
tressed. 

This  said,  she  forthwith  leads  ^neas  into  the  royal 
apartments,  and  at  the  same  time  ordains  due  honours  for 
the  temples  of  the  gods.  Meanwhile,  with  no  less  care, 
she  sends  presents  to  his  companions  on  the  shore,  twenty 
bulls,  a  hundred  bristly  backs  of  huge  boars,  a  hundred 
fat  lambs,  with  the  ewes,  as  gifts  and  pleasure  for  the  day. 
But  the  inner  rooms  are  splendidly  furnished  with  regal 
pomp,  and  banquets  are  prepared  in  the  middle  of  the 
hall.  Couch  draperies  wrought  with  art,  and  of  proud 
purple  ;  massive  silver  plate  on  the  table,  and,  embossed 
in  gold,  the  brave  exploits  of  her  ancestors,  a  lengthened 
series  of  history  traced  down  through  so  many  heroes, 
from  the  first  founder  of  the  ancient  race,  ^neas  (for 
paternal  affection  suffered  not  his  mind  to  rest)  with  speed 
sends  on  Achates  to  the  ships,  to  bear  those  tidings  to 
Ascanius,  and  bring  [the  boy]  himself  to  the  city.  All 
the  care  of  the  fond  parent  centres  in  Ascanius.  Besides, 
he  bids  him  bring  presents,  saved  from  the  ruins  of  Troy, 
a  mantle  stiff  with  gold  and  figures,  and  a  veil  woven 
round  wdth  safiron-coloured  acanthus,  the  ornaments  of 
Grecian  Helen,  which  she  had  brought  with  her  from 
Mycenae,  when  bound  for  Troy,  and  lawless  nuptuals  ;  her 
mother  Leda's  wondrous  gift ;  a  sceptre  too,  which  once 
Hione,  Priam's  eldest  daughter,  bore,  a  neckless  strung 


B.  I.  655-687. 


31 


with  pearl,  and  a  crown  set  with  double  rows  of  gems  and 
gold.  This  message  to  dispatch,  Achates  directed  his 
course  to  the  ships. 

But  Venus  revolves  in  her  breast  new  plots,  new  de- 
signs ;  that  Cupid  should  come  in  place  of  sweet  Ascanius, 
assuming  his  mien  and  features,  and  by  the  gifts  kindle 
in  the  queen  all  the  rage  of  love,  and  enwrap  the  flame 
in  her  very  bones  ;  for  she  dreads  the  equivocating  race, 
and  the  double-tongued  Tyrians.  FeU  Juno  torments  her, 
and  with  the  night  her  care  returns.  To  winged  lyove, 
therefore,  she  addresses  these  words :  O  son,  my  strength, 
my  mighty  power ;  my  son,  who  alone  defiest  the  Ty- 
phoean  bolts  of  Jove  supreme,  to  thee  I  fly,  and  suppliant 
implore  thy  deity.  *Tis  known  to  thee  how  round  all 
shores  thy  brother  ^neas  is  tossed  from  sea  to  sea,  by  the 
spite  of  partial  Juno,  and  in  my  grief  thou  hast  often 
grieved.  Him  Phoenician  Dido  entertains,  and  amuses 
with  smooth  speech  ;  and  I  fear  what  may  be  the  issue  of 
Juno's  acts  of  hospitality  :  she  will  not  be  idle  in  so  criti- 
cal a  conjuncture ;  wherefore,  I  purpose  to  prevent  the 
queen  by  subtle  means,  and  to  beset  her  with  the  flames 
of  love  that  no  power  may  influence  her  to  change,  but 
that  with  me  she  may  be  possessed  by  great  fondness 
for  ^neas.  How  this  thou  mayest  eff'ect,  now  hear  my 
plan.  The  royal  boy,  my  chief  care,  at  his  father's  call, 
prepares  to  visit  the  Sidonian  city,  bearing  presents 
saved  from  the  sea  and  flames  of  Troy.  Him  having  lulled 
to  rest,  I  will  lay  down  in  some  sacred  retreat  on  Cythera's 
tops,  or  above  Idalium,  lest  he  should  discover  the  plot, 
or  interfere  with  it.  Do  you  artfully  counterfeit  his  face 
but  for  one  night,  and,  yourself  a  boy,  assume  a  boy's 
familiar  looks ;  that  when  Dido  shall  take  -thee  to  her 
bosom  in  the  height  of  her  joy,  amid  the  royal  feasts, 
and  Bacchus'  stream,  when  she  shall  give  thee  embraces, 
2  * 


32 


B.  I.  688-716. 


and  imprint  sweet  kisses,  thou  mayest  breathe  into  her 
the  secret  flame,  and  by  stealth  convey  the  poison.  Ivove 
obeys  the  dictates  of  his  dear  mother,  and  lays  aside  his 
wings,  and  joyful  trips  along  in  the  gait  of  liilus.  Mean- 
while Venus  pours  the  dews  of  balmy  sleep  on  Ascanius* 
limbs,  and  in  her  bosom  fondled,  conveys  him  to  Idalia'sJ 
lofty  groves,  where  soft  marjoram,  perfuming  the  air  with 
flowers  and  fragrant  shade,  clasps  Ijim  round. 

Now,  in  obedience  to  his  instructions,  Cupid  went 
along,  and  bore  the  royal  presents  to  the  Tyrians,  pleased 
with  Achates  for  his  guide.  By  the  time  he  arrived,  the 
queen  had  placed  herself  on  a  golden  couch,  under  a  rich 
canopy,  and  had  taken  her  seat  in  the  middle.  Now 
father  ^neas,  and  now  the  Trojan  youth,  join  the  assem- 
bly, and  couch  themselves  on  the  strawn  purple.  The 
attendants  supply  water  for  the  hands,  dispense  the  gifts 
of  Ceres  from  baskets,  and  furnish  them  with  the  smooth- 
shorn  towels.  Within  are  fifty  handmaids,  whose  task 
it  was  to  prepare  provisions  in  due  order,  and  do  honour 
to  the  household  gods.  A  hundred  more,  and  as  many 
servants  of  equal  age,  are  employed  to  load  the  boards 
with  dishes,  and  place  the  cups.  In  like  manner  the  Ty- 
rians, a  numerous  train,  assembled  in  the  joyful  courts, 
invited  to  recline  on  the  embroidered  beds.  They  view 
with  wonder  the  presents  of  ^neas :  nor  with  less  won- 
der do  they  view  liilus,  the  glowing  aspect  of  the  god, 
his  well-dissembled  words,  the  mantle  and  veil  figured 
with  leaves  of  the  acanthus  in  saffron  colours.  Chiefly, 
the  unhappy  queen  henceforth  devoted  to  love's  pestilen- 
tial influence,  cannot  satisfy  her  feeling,  and  is  inflamed 
^ith  every  glance,  and  is  equally  moved  by  the  boy  and 
by  his  gifts.  He  on  Eneas'  neck  having  hung  with  em- 
braces, and  having  fully  gratified  his  fictitious  father's 
ardent  affections,  makes  for  the  queen.    She  clings  to 


B.  I.  717-745. 


33 


him  with  her  eyes,  her  whole  soul,  and  sometimes  fon- 
dles him  in  her  lap.  Dido  not  thinking  what  a  powerful 
god  is  settling  on  her,  hapless  one.  Meanwhile  he, 
mindful  of  his  Acidalian  mother,  begins  insensibly  to 
efface  the  memory  of  Sichaeus,  and  with  a  living  flame 
tries  to  prepossess  her  languid  affections,  and  her  heart 
chilled  by  long  disuse. 

Soon  as  the  first  banquet  ended,  and  the  viands  were 
removed,  they  place  large  mixers,  and  crown  the  wines. 
A  bustling  din  arises  through  the  hall,  and  they  roll 
through  the  ample  courts  the  bounding  voice.  Down 
from  the  gold-fretted  ceilings  hang  the  flaming  lamps,  and 
torches  overpower  the  darkness  of  the  night.  Here  the 
queen  called  for  a  bowl,  heavy  with  gems  and  gold,  and 
with  pure  wine  filled  it  to  the  brim,  which  Belus,  and  all 
her  ancestors  from  Belus,  used ;  then,  having  enjoined 
silence  through  the  palace,  [she  thus  began :]  O  Jove, 
(for  by  thee,  it  is  said,  the  laws  of  hospitality  were  given,) 
grant  this  may  be  an  auspicious  day  both  to  the  Tyrians 
and  my  Trojan  guests,  and  may  this  day  be  commemo- 
rated by  our  posterity.  Bacchus,  the  giver  of  joy,  and 
propitious  Juno,  be  present  here  ;  and  you,  my  Tyrians, 
with  good  will,  solemnize  this  meeting.  She  said,  and  on 
the  table  poured  an  offering  ;  and,  after  the  libation,  first 
gently  touched  [the  cup]  with  her  lips,  then  gave  it  to 
Bitias  with  a  challenge  :  he  quickly  drained  the  foaming 
bowl,  and  laved  himself  with  the  brimming  gold.  After 
him  the  other  lords  [drank].  Ivong-haired  lopas  [next] 
tunes  his  golden  lyre  to  what  the  mighty  Atlas  taughto 
He  sings  of  the  wandering  moon  and  the  eclipses  of  the 
sun ;  whence  the  race  of  man  and  beasts,  whence  show- 
ers and  fiery  meteors  arise :  of  Arcturus,  the  rainy  Hy- 
ades,  and  the  two  northern  wains  ;  why  winter  suns  make 
80  much  haste  to  set  in  the  ocean,  or  what  retarding 


34 


B.  I.  746-756  B.  n.  1-12. 


cause  detains  tiie  slow  [summer]  nights.  The  Tyrians 
redouble  their  applauses,  and  the  Trojans  concur. 

Meanwhile  unhappy  Dido,  with  varied  converse,  spun 
out  the  night,  and  drank  long  draughts  of  love,  questioning 
much  about  Priam,  much  about  Hector :  now  in  what 
arms  Aurora's  son  had  come  ;  now  what  were  the  excel- 
lences of  Diomede's  steed ;  now  how  mighty  was  AchilleSo 
Nay  come,  my  guest,  she  says  ;  and  from  the  first  origin, 
relate  to  us  the  stratagems  of  the  Greeks,  the  adventures 
of  your  friends,  and  your  own  wanderings  ;  for  now  the 
seventh  summer  brings  thee  [to  our  coasts],  through 
wandering  mazes  roaming  o'er  every  land  and  sea. 


BOOK  II. 

In  the  Second  Book,  ^neas,  at  the  desire  of  Queen  Dido,  relates  the  fall  of 
Troy,  and  his  escape,  through  the  general  conflagration,  to  Mount  Ida.  A 
comparison  with  the  poems  of  Petronius  and  Tryphiodorus  will  repay  the 
reader. 

Aiviy  became  silent,  and  fixed  their  eyes  upon  him, 
eagerly  attentive  :  then  father  ^neas  thus  from  his  lofty 
couch  began : 

Unutterable  woes,  O  queen,  you  urge  me  to  renew  ;  to 
tell  how  the  Greeks  overturned  the  power  of  Troy,  and 
its  deplorable  realms  ;  both  what  seems  of  misery  I  myself 
beheld,  and  those  wherein  I  was  a  principal  party.  What 
Myrmidon,  or  Dolopian,  or  who  of  hardened  Ulysses' 
band,  can,  in  the  very  telling  of  such  woes,  refrain  from 
tears?  Besides,  humid  night  is  hastening  down  the  sky, 
and  the  setting  stars  invite  to  sleep.  But  since  you  are 
so  desirous  of  knowing  our  misfortunes,  and  briefly  hear- 
ing the  last  eifort  of  Troy,  though  my  soul  shudders  at 
the  remembrance,  and  hath  shrunk  back  with  grief,  yet 


B.  «i.  13-41. 


35 


will  I  begin.  The  Grecian  leaders,  now  disheartened  by 
the  war,  and  baffled  by  the  Fates,  after  a  revolution  of  so 
many  years  [being  assisted]  by  the  divine  skill  of  Pallas, 
build  a  horse  to  the  size  of  a  mountain,  and  interweave 
its  ribs  with  planks  of  fir.  This  they  pretend  to  be  an 
offering,  in  order  to  procure  a  safe  return  ;  which  report 
spread.  Hither  having  secretly  conveyed  a  select  band^ 
chosen  by  lot,  they  shut  them  up  into  the  dark  sides,  and 
fill  its  capacious  caverns  and  womb  with  armed  soldiers. 
In  sight  [of  Troy]  lies  Tenedos,  an  island  well  known  by 
fame,  and  flourishing  while  Priam's  kingdom  stood  :  now 
only  a  bay,  and  a  station  unfaithful  for  ships.  Having 
made  this  island,  they  conceal  themselves  in  that  desolate 
shore.  We  imagined  they  were  gone,  and  that  they  had 
set  sail  for  Mycenae.  In  consequence  of  [this] ,  all  Troy  is 
released  from  its  long  distress  :  the  gates  are  thrown  open ; 
with  joy  we  issue  forth,  and  view  the  Grecian  camp,  the 
deserted  plains,  and  the  abandoned  shore.  Here  were 
the  Dolopian  bands,  there  stern  Achilles  had  pitched  his 
tent ;  here  were  the  ships  drawn  up,  there  they  were  wont 
to  contend  in  array.  Some  view  with  amazement  that 
baleful  offering  of  the  virgin  Minerva,  and  wonder  at  the 
stupendous  bulk  of  the  horse  ;  and  Thymoetes  first  advises 
that  it  be  dragged  within  the  walls  and  lodged  in  the 
tower,  whether  with  treacherous  design,  or  that  the  des- 
tiny of  Troy  now  would  have  it  so.  But  Capys,  and  all 
whose  minds  had  wiser  sentiments,  strenuously  urge 
either  to  throw  into  the  sea  the  treacherous  snare  and 
suspected  oblation  of  the  Greeks  ;  or  by  applying  flames 
consume  it  to  ashes  ;  or  to  lay  open  and  ransack  the  re- 
cesses of  the  hollow  womb.  The  fickle  populace  is  split 
into  opposite  inclinations.  Upon  this,  lyaocoon,  accom- 
panied with  a  numerous  troop,  first  before  all,  with  ardour 
hastens  down  from  the  top  of  the  citadel ;  and  while  yet 


36  ;eNEID.  B-  n-  42-70. 

a  great  way  off  [cries  out],  O,  wretched  countrymen, 
what  desperate  infatuation  is  this?   Do  you  believe  the 
enemv  gone?  or  think  you  any  gifts  of  the  Greeks  can 
be  fr^e  from  deceit?   Is  Ulysses  thus  known  to  you? 
Either  the  Greeks  lie  concealed  within  this  wood,  or  it  is 
an  engine  framed  against  our  walls,  to  overlook  out 
houses,  and  to  come  down  upon  our  city ;  or  some  mis- 
chievous design  lurks  beneath  it.    Trojans,  put  no  faith 
in  this  horse.    Whatever  it  be,  I  dread  the  Greeks,  even 
when  they  bring  gifts.   Thus  said,  with  valiant  strength 
he  hurled  his  massy  spear  against  the  sides  and  belly  of 
the  monster,  where  it  swelled  out  with  its  jointed  tim- 
bers ;  the  weapon  stood  quivering,  and  the  womb  bemg 
shaken,  the  hollow  caverns  rang,  and  sent  forth  a  groan. 
And  had  not  the  decrees  of  heaven  [been  adverse] ,  if  our 
minds  had  not  been  infatuated,  he  had  prevailed  on  us  to 
mutilate  with  the  sword  this  dark  recess  of  the  Greeks ; 
and  thou,  Troy,  should  still  have  stood,  and  thou,  lof^ 
tower  of  Priam,  now  remained !  In  the  meantime,  behold, 
Trojan  shepherds,  with  loud  acclamations,  came  drag- 
ging to  the  king  a  youth,  whose  hands  were  bound  behind 
him;  who,  to  them  a  mere  stranger,  had  voluntarily 
thrown  himself  in  the  way,  to  promote  this  same  design, 
and  open  Troy  to  the  Greeks;  a  resolute  soul,  and  pre- 
pared for  either  event,  whether  to  execute  his  perfidious 
purpose,  or  submit  to  inevitable  death.    The  Trojan 
youth  pour  tumultuously  around  from  every  quarter, 
from  eagerness  to  see  him,  and  they  vie  with  one  anothei 
m  insulting  the  captive.    Now  learn  the  treache^  oi 
the  Greeks,  and  from  one  crime  take  a  specimen  of  the 
^hole  nation.    For  as  he  stood  among  the  gazing  crowds 
perplexed,  defenceless,  and  threw  his  eyes  around  the 
Trojan  bands.  Ah!  says  he,  what  land,  what  seas  can 
now  receive  me?  or  to  what  further  extremity  can  I,  a 


B.  n.  71-97. 


37. 


forlorn  wretch,  be  reduced,  for  whom  there  is  no  shelter 
anywhere  among  the  Greeks  ?  and  to  complete  my  misery 
the  Trojans  too,  incensed  against  me,  sue  for  satisfaction 
with  my  blood.  By  which  mournful  accents  our  affec- 
tions at  once  were  moved  towards  him,  and  all  our  resent- 
ment  suppressed  ;  we  exhort  him  to  say  from  what  race 
he  sprang,  to  declare  what  message  he  brings,  what  con 
fidence  we  may  repose  in  him,  now  that  he  is  our  pris- 
oner. Then  he,  having  at  length  laid  aside  fear,  thus 
proceeds:  I  indeed,  O  king,  will  confess  to  you  the 
whole  truth,  says  he,  be  the  event  what  will ;  nor  will 
I  disown  that  I  am  of  Grecian  extraction  :  this  I  promise  ; 
nor  shall  it  be  in  the  power  of  cruel  fortune,  though 
she  has  made  Sinon  miserable,  to  make  him  also  false 
and  disingenuous.  If  accidentally,  in  the  course  of  re- 
port, the  name  of  Palamedes,  the  descendant  of  Belus,  and 
his  illustrious  renown,  ever  reached  your  ears  (who,  though 
innocent,  the  Greeks  sent  down  to  death,  under  a  false 
accusation  of  treason,  upon  a  villainous  evidence,  because 
he  gave  his  opinion  against  the  war ;  [but  whom]  now 
they  mourn  bereaved  of  the  light) ;  with  him  my  poor 
father  sent  me  in  company  to  the  war,  from  my  earliest 
years,  being  his  near  relative.  While  he  remained  safe 
in  the  kingdom,  and  had  weight  in  the  counsels  of  the 
princes,  I  too  bore  some  reputation  and  honour :  [but] 
from  the  time  that  he,  by  the  malice  of  the  crafty  Ulysses 
(they  are  well-known  truths  I  speak,)  quitted  the  regions 
above,  I  distressed  dragged  out  my  life  in  obscurity  and 
grief,  and  secretly  repined  at  the  fate  of  my  innocent  friend. 
Nor  could  I  hold  my  peace,  fool  that  I  was,  but  vowed  re  » 
venge,  if  fortune  should  any  way  give  me  the  oppor- 
tunity, if  ever  I  should  return  victorious  to  my  native 
Argos;  and,  by  my  words,  I  provoked  bitter  enmity. 
Hence  arose  the  first  symptom  of  my  misery  ;  henceforth 


38 


B.  n.  98-124. 


Ulysses  was  always  terrifying  me  with,  new  accusations ; 
henceforth  he  began  to  spread  ambiguous  surmises  among 
the  vulgar,  and,  conscious  [of  his  own  guilt] ,  sought  the 
means  of  defence.    Nor  did  he  give  over,  till,  by  making 
Calchas  his  tool — but  why  do  I  thus  in  vain  unfold  these 
disagreeables  ?  or  why  do  I  lose  time  ?    If  you  place  allj 
the  Greeks  on  the  same  footing,  and  your  having  heard 
that  be  enough  [to  undo  me],  this  very  instant  strike  the 
fatal  blow  :  this  the  prince  of  Ithaca  wishes,  and  the  sons 
of  Atreus  would  give  large  sums  to  purchase.    Then,  in- 
deed, we  grow  impatient  to  know  and  to  find  out  the 
causes,  unacquainted  with  such  consummate  villainy  and 
Grecian  artifice.  He  proceeds  with  palpitation,  and  speaks 
in  the  falsehood  of  his  heart.    After  quitting  Troy,  the 
Greeks  sought  often  to  surmount  the  difiiculties  of,  their 
return,  and,  tired  out  with  th^  length  of  the  war,  to  be 
gone.    And  I  wish  they  had  I  ^'^ften  did  the  rough  tem- 
pest on  the  ocean  bar  their  flight,  and  the  south  wind 
deterred  them  in  their  setting  out.   Especially  when  now 
this  horse,  framed  of  maple  planks,  was  reared,  storms 
roared  through  all  the  regions  of  the  air.    In  perplexity 
we  send  Burypylus  to  consult  the  oracle  of  Apollo  ;  and 
from  the  sacred  shrine  he  brings  back  this  dismal  re- 
sponse :  Ye  appeased  the  winds,  O  ye  Greeks,  with  the 
blood  of  a  virgin  slain,  when  first  you  arrived  on  the  Tro- 
jan coast ;  by  blood  must  your  return  be  purchased,  and 
atonement  made  by  the  life  of  a  Greek.    Which  intima- 
tion no  sooner  reached  the  ears  of  the  multitude  than 
^  leir  minds  were  stunned,  and  freezing  horror  thrilled 
ough  their  very  bones  ;  [anxious  to  know]  whom  the 
:_.tes  destined,  whom  Apollo  demanded.    Upon  this 
Ulysses  drags  forth  Calchas  the  seer,  with  great  bustle,  into 
the  midst  of  the  crowd  ;  importunes  him  to  say  what  that 
will  of  the  gods  may  be  ;  and,  by  this  time,  many  presaged 


B.  II.  125-152. 


39 


to  me  the  cruel  purpose  of  the  dissembler,  and  quietly 
foresaw  the  event.  He,  for  twice  five  days  is  mute,  and 
close  shut  up,  refuses  to  give  forth  his  declaration  against 
any  person,  or  doom  him  to  death.  At  length,  with  much 
ado,  teased  by  the  importunate  clamours  of  Ulysses,  he 
breaks  silence  by  concert,  and  destines  me  to  the  altar. 
All  assented,  and  were  content  to  have  what  each  dreaded 
for  himself,  turned  off  to  the  ruin  of  one  poor  wretch. 
And  now  the  rueful  day  approached ;  for  me  the  sacred 
rites  were  prepared,  and  the  salted  cakes,  and  fillets  [to 
bind]  about  my  temples.  From  death,  I  own,  I  made  my 
escape,  and  brokie  my  bonds  ;  and  in  a  slimy  fen  all  night 
I  lurked  obscure  among  the  weeds,  till  they  should  set 
sail,  if  by  chance  they  should  do  so.  Nor  have  I  now  any 
hope  of  being  blessed  with  the  sight  of  my  ancient  country, 
nor  of  my  sweet  children,  and  my  much-beloved  sire; 
whom  they,  perhaps,  will  sue  to  vengeance  for  my  escape, 
and  expiate  this  offence  of  mine  by  the  death  of  those 
unhappy  innocents.  But  I  conjure  you,  by  the  powers 
above,  by  the  gods  who  are  conscious  to  truth,  by  what- 
ever remains  of  inviolable  faith  are  anywhere  among 
mortals,  compassionate  such  grievous  afflictions,  com- 
passionate a  soul  suffering  unworthy  treatment. 

At  these  tears  we  grant  him  his  life,  and  pity  him  from 
our  hearts."^ .Priam  himself  first  gives  orders  that  the 
manacles  and  strait  bonds  be  loosened  from  the  man, 
then  thus  addresses  him  in  the  language  of  a  friend: 
Whoever  you  are,  now  henceforth,  forget  the  Greeks  you 
have  lost ;  ours  you  shall  be  :  and  give  me  an  ingenious 
reply  to  these  questions  :  To  what  purpose  raised  they 
this  stupendous  bulk  of  a  horse?  who  was  the  contriver? 
or  what  do  they  intend  ?  what  was  the  religious  motive  ? 
or  what  warlike  engine  is  it  ?  he  said.  The  other,  prac-  * 
tised  in  fraud  and  Grecian  artifice,  lifted  up  to  heaven 


40 


B.  n.  153-181, 


his  hands,  loosed  from  the  bonds :  To  you,  ye  everlast- 
ing orbs  of  fire,  he  says,  and  your  inviolable  divinity ;  to 
you,  ye  altars  and  horrid  swords,  which  I  escaped  ;  and 
ye  fillets  of  the  gods,  which  I  a  victim  wore ;  to  you  I 
appeal,  that  I  am  free  to  violate  all  the  sacred  obligations 
I  was  under  to  the  Greeks  ;  I  am  free  to  hold  these  men 
in  abhorrence,  and  to  bring  forth  to  light  all  their  dark 
designs  ;  nor  am  I  bound  by  any  of  the  laws  of  my  coun- 
try. Only  do  thou,  O  Troy,  abide  by  thy  promises,  and, 
being  preserved,  preserve  thy  faith  ;  provided  I  disclose 
the  truth,  provided  I  make  thee  large  amends. 

The  whole  hope  of  the  Greeks,  and  their  confidence 
in  the  war  begun,  always  depended  on  the  aid  of  Pallas : 
but  when  the  sacrilegious  Diomede,  and  Ulysses  the  con- 
triver of  wicked  designs,  in  their  attempt  to  carry  .off  by 
force  from  her  holy  temple  the  fatal  Palladium,  having 
slain  the  guards  of  her  high  tower,  seized  her  sacred 
image,  and  with  bloody  hands  dared  to  touch  the  virgin 
fillets  of  the  goddess  ;  from  that  day  the  hope  of  the 
Greeks  began  to  ebb,  and,  losing  footing,  to  decline : 
their  powers  were  weakened,  the  mind  of  the  goddess 
alienated:  nor  did  Tritonia  show  these  indications  [of 
her  wrath]  by  dubious  prodigies ;  for  scarcely  was  the 
statue  set  up  in  the  camp,  when  bright  flames  flashed 
from  her  staring  eye-balls,  and  a  briny  sweat  flowed  over 
her  limbs;  and  (wonderful  to  hear)  she  herself  sprung 
thrice  from  the  ground,  armed  as  she  was,  with  her  shield 
and  quivering  spear.  Forthwith  Calchas  declares,  that 
we  must  attempt  the  seas  in  flight,  and  that  Troy  can 
never  be  razed  by  the  Grecian  sword,  unless  they  repent 
the  omens  at  Argos,  and  carry  back  the  goddess  whom 
they  had  conveyed  over  the  sea  in  their  curved  ships. 
*  And  now,  that  they  have  sailed  for  their  native  Mycenae 
with  the  wind,  they  are  providing  themselves  with  arms. 


B,  n.  182-211.  ^NEID.  4j 

and  gods  to  accompany  them ;  and,  having  measured 
back  the  sea,  they  will  come  upon  you  unexpected  •  so 
Calchas  interprets  the  omens.  This  figure,  being  warned 
they  reared  in  lieu  of  the  Palladium,  in  lieu  of  the  vio^ 
lated  goddess,  in  order  to  atone  for  their  direful  crime 
But  Calchas  commanded  to  build  this  enormous  mass' 
tjnd  raise  it  to  the  skies,  that  it  might  not  be  admitted 
lato  the  gates,  or  dragged  into  the  city,  nor  protect  the 
people  under  their  ancient  religion.  For  [he  declared 
that]  If  your  hands  should  violate  this  offering  sacred  to 
Minerva,  then  signal  ruin  (which  omen  may  the  gods 
rather  turn  on  himself ! )  awaited  Priam's  empire  and  the 
Trojans.  But,  if  by  your  hands  it  mounted  into  the  city 
that  Asia,  without  further  provocation  given,  would  ad- 
vance with  a  formidable  war  to  the  very  walls  of  Pelops 
and  our  posterity  be  doomed  to  the  same  fate.  By  such 
treachery  and  artifice  of  perjured  Sinon,  the  story  was 
believed:  and  we,  whom  neither  Diomede,  nor  Laris- 

luZ  T^'^XT^""  y^^^^'       -  thousand 

ships,  had  subdued,  were  insnared  by  guile  and  con- 
strained tears.  Here  another  greater  scene,  and  far  more 
terrible,  is  presented  to  our  wretched  sight,  and  disturbs 
our  unexpecting  breasts.  Laocoon,  ordained  Neptune's 
priest  by  lot,  was  sacrificing  a  stately  bullock  at  the  al- 
tars set  apart  for  that  solemnity  ;  when  lo  !  from  Tenedos 
(I  shudder  at  the  relation)  two  serpents,  with  orbs  im- 
mense bear  along  on  the  sea,  and  with  equal  motion 
shoot  forward  to  the  shore  ;  whose  breasts  erect  amidst 
TT'  r  '  bedropped  with  blood,  tower  above 

the  flood;  their  other  parts  sweep  the  sea  behind,  and 
Wind  their  spacious  backs  in  rolling  spires.  A  loud  noise 
IS  made  by  Uie  briny  ocean  foaming:  and  now  they 
reached  the  shores,  and,  suffused  with  fire  and  blood  ^ 
to  their  glaring  eyes,  with  quivering  tongues  licked  thei/ 


42 


B.  n.  212-241. 


hissing  months.    Half-dead  with  the  sight,  we  fly  differ- 
ent ways.    They,  with  resolnte  motion,  advance  towards 
Laocoon ;  and  first  both  serpents,  with  close  embraces, 
twine  around  the  little  bodies  of  his  two  sons,  and  with 
their  fangs  mangle  their  wretched  limbs.    Next  they 
seize  himself,  as  he  is  coming  np  with  weapons  to  their 
relief,  and  bind  him  fast  in  their  mighty  folds  ;  and  now 
grasping  him  twice  about  the  middle,  twice  winding 
their  scaly  backs  around  his  neck,  they  overtop  him  by 
the  head  and  lofty  neck.    He  strains  at  once  with  his 
hands  to  tear  asunder  their  knotted  spires,  while  his  fil- 
lets are  stained  with  gore  and  black  poison  :  at  the  same 
time  he  raises  hideous  shrieks  to  heaven  ;  such  bellow- 
ing, as  when  a  bull  has  fled  wounded  from  the  altar,  and 
has  eluded  with  his  neck  the  missing  axe.  Meanwhile, 
the  two  serpents  glide  off  to  the  high  temple,  and  repair 
to  the  fane  of  stern  Tritonia,  and  are  sheltered  under  the 
feet  of  the  goddess,  and  the  orb  of  her  buckler.  Then, 
indeed,  new  terror  diffuses  itself  through  the  quaking 
hearts  of  all ;  and  they  pronounce  Laocoon  to  have  de- 
servedly suffered  for  his  crime,  in  having  violated  the 
sacred  wood  with  his  pointed  weapon,  and  hurled  his 
profane  spear  against  its  sides.    They  urge  with  general 
voice  to  convey  the  statue  to  its  proper  seat,  and  implore 
the  favour  of  the  goddess.    We  make  a  breach  in  the 
walls,  and  lay  open  the  bulwarks  of  the  city.    All  keenly 
ply  the  work  ;  and  under  the  feet  apply  smooth-rolling 
wheels  ;  stretch  hempen  ropes  from  the  neck.  The  fatal 
machine  passes  over  our  walls,  pregnant  with  arms; 
boys  and  unmarried  virgins  accompany  it  with  sacred 
hymns,  and  are  glad  to  touch  the  rope  with  their  hand. 
It  advances,  and  with  menacing  aspect  slides  into  the 
heart  of  the  city.    O  country,  O  Ilium,  the  habitation  of 
gods,  and  ye  walls  of  Troy  by  war  renowned!  Four 


B.  11  242-272.  ^NKID.  ,  43 

times  it  stopped  in  the  very  threshold  of  the  gate,  and 
four  times  the  arms  resounded  in  its  womb:  yet  we, 
heedless,  and  blind  with  frantic  zeal,  urge  on,  and  plant 
the  baneful  monster  in  the  sacred  citadel.    Then,  too, 
Cassandra,  by  the  inspiration  of  the  god,  opens  her  lips 
to  our  approaching  doom,  never  believed  by  the  Trojans. 
Unhappy  we,  to  whom  that  day  was  to  be  the  last,  adorn 
the  temples  of  the  gods  throughout  the  city  with  festive 
boughs.    Meanwhile,  the  heavens  change,  and  night  ad- 
vances rapidly  from  the  ocean,  wrapping  in  her  ex- 
tended shade  both  earth  and  heaven,  and  the  wiles  of 
the  Myrmidons.   The  Trojans,  dispersed  about  the  walls, 
were  hushed  :  deep  Sleep  fast  binds  them  weary  in  his  em- 
braces.   And  now  the  Grecian  host,  in  their  equipped 
vessels,  set  out  for  Tenedos,  making  towards  the  well- 
known  shore,  by  the  friendly  silence  of  the  quiet  moon- 
shme,  as  soon  as  the  royal  [galley]  stern  had  exhibited 
the  signal  fire ;  and  Sinon,  preserved  by  the  will  of  the 
adverse  gods,  in  a  stolen  hour  unlocks  the  wooden  prison 
to  the  Greeks  shut  up  in  its  womb  :  the  horse,  from  his 
expanded  caverns,  pours  them  forth  to  the  open  air; 
and  with  joy  issue  from  the  hollow  wood  Thessandrus 
and  Sthenelus  the  chiefs,  and  dire  Ulysses,  sliding  down 
by  a  suspended  rope,  with  Athamas  and  Thoas,  Neop- 
tolemus,  the  grandson  of  Peleus,  and  Machaon  who  led 
the  way,  with  Menelaus,  and  Bpeus  the  very  contriver  of 
the  trick.    They  assault  the  city  buried  in  sleep  and 
wine.    The  sentinels  are  beaten  down  ;  and  with  opened 
gates  they  receive  all  their  friends,  and  join  the  con- 
scious bands.    It  was  the  time  when  the  first  sleep  in- 
vades languid  mortals,  and  steals  upon  them,  by  the  gift 
of  the  gods,  most  sweet.    In  my  sleep,  lo  !  Hector,  ex- 
tremely sad,  seemed  to  stand  before  my  eyes,  and  to 
shed  floods  of  tears  ;  dragged,  as  formerly  by  a  chariot, 


44  •  ^NEiD.  B-n-iTa-aM 

and  black  with  gory  dust,  and  Ws  swollen  feet  bored 
through  with  thongs.    Ah  me !  in  what  piteous  plight 
he  was !  how  changed  from  that  Hector  who  returned 
clad  in  the  armour  of  Achilles,  or  darting  Phrygian 
flames  against  the  ships  of  Greece !  wearing  a  gnsly 
beard,  hair  clotted  with  blood,  and  those  many  wounds 
which  he  had  received  under  his  native  walls.    I,  me-/ 
thought,  in  tears  addressed  the  hero  first,  and  poured 
forth  these  mournful  accents  :    O  light  of  Troy,  O  Tr<> 
jans'  firmest  hope !  what  tedious  causes  have  detained 
thee  so  long?  Whence  comest  thou,  my  long-look ed-for 
Hector?    With  what  joy  we  behold  thee  after  the  many 
deaths  of  thy  friends,  after  the  various  disasters  of  men 
and  city '    What  unworthy  cause  has  deformed  the  se- 
renity of  thy  looks?  or  why  do  I  behold  these  wounds? 
He  [said]  not  a  word ;  nor  regards  me,  questionmg  of 
what  nought  availed;  but  heavily,  from,  the  bottom  of 
his  heart,  drawing  a  groan  !   Ah  !  fly,  thou  goddess-bom, 
he  says,  and  snatch  thyself  from  these  flames  ;  the  en- 
emy is  in  possession  of  the  walls ;  Troy  falls  from  its 
towering  tops.    To  Priam,  to  my  country,  all  duty  has 
been  done.    Could  those  walls  have  been  saved  by  the 
hand,  by  this  same  hand  had  they  been  saved.  Troy 
commends  to  thee  her  sacred  things,  her  gods:  these 
take  companions  of  thy  fate ;  for  these  go  in  quest  of  a 
city  which,  in  process  of  time,  you  shall  erect,  larger  of 
size,  after  a  wandering  voyage.    He  said,  and  with  his 
own  hands  brings  forth,  from  the  inner  temple,  the  fillets, 
■he  powerful  Vesta,  and  the  fire  which  always  burned. 

Meanwhile  the  city  is  filled  with  mingled  scenes  of 
woe;  and  though  my  father  Anchises'  house  stood  re- 
tired and  enclosed  with  trees,  louder  and  louder  the 
sounds  rise  on  the  ear,  and  the  horrid  din  of  arms  assails 
I  start  from  sleep  and,  by  hasty  steps,  gain  the  highest 


B.  n.  303-332. 


45 


battlement  of  the  palace,  and  stand  with  erect  ears :  as 
when  a  flame  is  driven  by  the  furious  south  winds  on 
standing  corn  ;  or  as  a  torrent  impetuously  bursting  in 
a  mountain-flood  desolates  the  fields,  desolates  the  rich 
crops  of  corn  and  the  labours  of  the  ox,  and  drags  wood 
headlong  down  :  the  unwary  shepherd,  struck  with  the 
sound  from  the  top  of  a  high  rock,  stands  amazed.  Then^ 
indeed,  the  truth  is  confirmed  and  the  treachery  of  the 
Greeks  disclosed.  Now  Deiphobus'  spacious  house  tum- 
bles down,  overpowered  by  the  conflagration  ;  now,  next 
to  him,  Ucalegon  blazes  :  the  straits  of  Sigaeum  shine  far 
and  wide  with  the  flames.  The  shout  of  men  and  clan- 
gour of  trumpets  arise.  My  arms  I  snatch  in  mad  haste : 
nor  is  there  in  arms  enough  of  reason  :  but  all  my  soul 
burns  to  collect  a  troop  for  the  war  and  rush  into  the 
citadel  with  my  fellows :  fury  and  rage  hurry  on  my 
mind,  and  it  occurs  to  me  how  glorious  it  is  to  die  in 
arms.  Lo  !  then  Pantheus,  escaped  from  the  sword  of 
the  Greeks,  Pantheus,  the  son  of  Othrys,  priest  of  the 
citadel  and  of  Apollo,  is  hurrying  away  with  him  the  holy 
utensils,  the  conquered  gods  and  his  little  grandchild, 
and  makes  for  the  shore  in  distraction.  How  is  it,  Pan- 
theus, with  the  main  affair  ?  what  fortress  do  we  seize  ?  I 
had  scarcely  spoken,  when,  with  a  groan,  he  thus  replies : 
Our  last  day  is  come,  and  the  inevitable  doom  of  Troy  : 
we  are  Trojans  no  more :  adieu  to  Ilium  and  the  high 
renown  of  Teucer's  race  :  fierce  Jupiter  hath  transferred 
all  to  Argos :  the  Greeks  bear  rule  in  the  burning  cityo 
The  towering  horse,  planted  in  the  midst  of  our  streets, 
pours  forth  armed  troops  ;  and  Sinon  victorious,  with  in- 
solent triumph  scatters  the  flames.  Others  are  pressing 
at  our  wide-opened  gates,  as  many  thousands  as  ever 
came  from  populous  Micenae :  others  with  arms  have 
blocked  up  the  lanes  to  oppose  our  passage  ;  the  edged 


^  ^KEID.  B.  n  333-36i 

sword,  with  glittering  point,  stands  unsheathed,  ready  foi 
dealing  death :  hardly  the  foremost  wardens  of  the  gatea 
make  an  effort  to  fight  and  resist  in  the  blind  encounter. 
By  these  words  of  Pantheus,  and  by  the  impulse  of  the 
gods,  I  hurry  away  into  flames  and  arms,  whithei 
erim  Fury,  whither  the  din  and  shrieks  that  rend  the 
skies,  urge  me  on.     Ripheus  and  Iphitus,  mighty  m 
arms,  join  me;  Hypanis  and  Dymas  commg  up  with  us 
bv  the  light  of  the  moon,  and  closely  adhere  to  my  side , 
and  also  young  Corcebus,  Mygdon's  son,  who  at  that  time 
had  chanced  to  come  to  Troy,  inflamed  with  a  mad  pas- 
sion  for  Cassandra,  and  [in  prospect  his]  son-in-law, 
brought  assistance  to  Priam  and  the  Trojans  Ill-fated 
youth,  who  heeded  not  the  admonitions  of  his  raving 
spouse  1  Whom,  close  united,  soon  as  I  saw  resolute  to  en- 
gage,  to  animate  them  the  more  I  thus  begm :  "Youths 
fouls  magnanimous  in  vain!  if  it  is  your  determined 
purpose  to  follow  me  in  this  last  attempt,  you  see  what  is 
aie  situation  of  our  affairs.    All  the  gods,  by  whom  tti^ 
empire  stood,  have  deserted  their  shrmes  and  alters 
abandoned  [to  the  enemy]:  you  come  to  the  relief  of 
the  city  in  flames :  let  us  meet  death,  and  rush  into  the 
thickest  of  our  armed  foes.   The  only  sa/e^y  for  ^e  v^- 
quished  is  to  throw  away  aU  hopes  of  safety."   Thus  the 
courage  of  each  youth  is  kindled  into  fu^.   Then,  like 
ravenous  wolves  in  a  gloomy  fog,  whom  the  fell  rage  of 
hunger  hath  driven  forth,  blind  to  danger,  and  whose 
whelps  left  behind  long  for  their  return  with  thirsting 
iaws-  through  arms,  through  enemies,  we  march  up  to 
riluTnt  d!ath,  and  advance  through  the  -i^dle  of  the 
city  :  sable  Night  hovers  around  us  with  her  hollow 
shade    Who  can  describe  in  words  the  havoc,  who  the 
deaths  of  that  night?  or  who  can  furnish  tears  equal  to 
the  disasters?    Our  ancient  city,  having  borne  sway  for 


B.  n.  364-393. 


47 


many  years,  falls  to  the  ground :  great  numbers  of  slug- 
gish carcasses  are  strewn  up  and  down,  both  in  the 
streets,  in  the  houses,  and  the  sacred  thresholds  of  the 
gods.  Nor  do  the  Trojans  alone  pay  the  penalty  with 
their  blood :  the  vanquished  too  at  times  resume  courage 
in  their  hearts,  and  the  victorious  Grecians  fall :  every 
where  is  cruel  sorrow,  every  where  terror  and  death  in 
thousand  shapes.  Androgeos  first  comes  up  with  us, 
accompanied  by  a  numerous  band  of  Greeks,  unadvisedly 
imagining  that  we  were  confederate  troops  ;  and  he  in- 
troduces himself  to  us  with  this  friendly  address  :  Haste, 
men  ;  what  so  tardy  sloth  detains  you  ?  Others  tear  and 
plunder  the  blazing  towers  of  Xroy :  are  you  but  just 
come  from  your  lofty  ships  ?  He  said,  and  instantly  per- 
ceived (for  we  returned  him  no  very  trusty  answer)  that 
he  had  stumbled  into  the  midst  of  foes.  He  was  con- 
founded, and  with  his  words  recalled  his  step.  As  one 
who,  in  his  walk,  hath  trodden  upon  a  snake  unseen  in 
the  rough  thorns,  and  in  fearful  haste  hath  started  back 
from  him,  while  he  is  collecting  all  his  rage,  and  swell- 
ing his  azure  crest ;  just  so  Androgeos,  terrified  at  the 
sight  [of  us],  began  to  withdraw. f  We  rush  in,  and  pour, 
around  with  arms  close  joined,  and  knock  them  down 
here  and  there,  strangers  as  they  were  to  the  place,  and 
possessed  with  fear :  fortune  smiles  upon  our  first  enter- 
prise. Upon  this  Coroebus,  exulting  with  success  and 
courage,  cried  out,  My  fellows,  where  fortune  thus  early 
points  out  our  way  to  safety,  and  where  she  shows  herself 
propitious,  let  us  follow.  Let  us  exchange  shields,  and 
fit  to  ourselves  the  badges  of  the  Greeks  :  whether  strat- 
agem or  valour,  who  questions  in  an  enemy?  they  them- 
selves will  supply  us  with  arms.  This  said,  he  puts  on 
the  crested  helmet  of  Androgeos,  and  the  rich  ornament 
of  his  shield,  and  buckles  to  his  side  a  Grecian  sword. 
3 


48 


B.  II.  394r424. 


The  same  does  Ripheus,  the  same  does  Dymas  too,  and 
All  the  youth  well  pleased  :  each  arms  himself  with  the 
recent  spoils.  We  march  on,  mingling  with  the  Greeks, 
but  not  with  heaven  on  our  side ;  and  in  many  a  skir- 
mish we  engage  during  the  dark  night ;  many  of  the 
[  I  Greeks  we  send  down  to  Hades.  "  Some  fly  to  the  ships, 
and  hasten  to  the  trusty  shore ;  some  through  dishon- 
est fear,  scale  once  more  the  bulky  horse,  and  lurk 
within  the  well-known  womb.  Alas  !  on  nothing  ought 
man  to  presume,  while  the  gods  are  against  him  1  Lo  ! 
Cassandra,  Priam's  virgin  daughter,  with  her  hair  dis- 
hevelled, was  dragged  along  from  the  temple  and  shrine 
of  Minerva,  raising  to  heaven  her  glaring  eyes  in  vain ; 
her  eyes — for  cords  bound  her  tender  hands.  Coroebus, 
in  the  madness  of  his  soul,  could  not  bear  this  spectacle, 
and  resolved  to  perish,  threw  himself  into  the  midst  of 
the  band.  We  all  follow,  and  rush  upon  them  in  close 
array.  Upon  this  we  are  first  overpowered  with  the  darts 
of  our  friends  from  the  high  summit  of  the  temple,  and  a 
most  piteous  slaughter  ensues,  through  the  appearance 
of  our  arms,  and  the  disguise  of  our  Grecian  crests.  Next 
the  Greeks,  through  anguish  and  rage  for  the  rescue  of 
the  virgin,  fall  upon  us  in  troops  from  every  quarter ; 
Ajax,  most  fierce,  both  the  sons  of  Atreus,  and  the  whole 
band  of  the  Dolopes :  as,  at  times,  in  a  burst  hurricane, 
opposite  winds  encounter,  the  west  and  south,  and  Bums, 
proud  of  his  eastern  steeds ;  the  woods  creak,  foaming 
Nereus  rages  with  his  trident,  and  rouses  the  seas  from 
the  lowest  bottom.  They,  too,  whom,  through  the  shades, 
in  the  dusky  night,  we  by  stratagem  had  routed,  and 
driven  all  over  the  city,  make  their  appearance  ;  they  are 
die  first  who  discover  our  shields  and  counterfeit  arms, 
.ftnd  mark  our  voices  in  sound  discordant  with  their  own. 
In  a  moment  we  are  overpowered  by  numbers  ;  and  first 


B.  II.  425  ^.  ^NEID.  *  49 

Corcebus  sinks  in  death  by  the  hand  of  Peneleas,  at  the 
altar  of  the  warrior-goddess  :  Ripheus  too  falls,  the  most 
just  among  the  Trojans,  and  of  the  strictest  integrity 
but  to  the  gods  it  seemed  otherwise.  Hypanis  and  Dymas 
die  by  the  cruel  darts  of  their  own  friends,  nor  did  thy 
signal  piety,  nor  the  fillets  of  Apollo,  save  thee,  Pantheus 
in  thy  dying  hour.    Ye  ashes  of  Troy,  ye  expiring  flames 
of  my  country  !  witness,  that  in  your  fall  I  shunned  neither 
darts  nor  any  deadly  chances  of  the  Greeks  ;  and,  had  it 
been  fated  that  I  should  fall,  I  deserved  it  by  my  hand 
Thence  we  are  forced  away,  Iphitus,  Pelias,  and  myself 
(of  whom  Iphitus  was  now  unwieldy  through  age,  and 
Pelias  disabled  by  a  wound  from  Ulysses,)  forthwith  to 
Priam's  palace  called  by  the  outcries.   Here,  indeed,  [we 
beheld]  a  dreadful  fight,  as  though  this  had  been  the  only 
seat  of  the  war,  as  though  none  had  been  dying  in  all  the 
city  besides ;  with  such  ungoverned  fury  we  see  Mars 
raging  and  the  Greeks  rushing  forward  to  the  palace,  and 
the  gates  besieged  by  an  advancing  testudo.  Scaling  lad- 
ders are  fixed  against  the  walls,  and  by  their  steps  they 
mount  to  the  very  door-posts,  and  protecting  themselves  ,  U  ' 
by  their  left  arms,  oppose  their  bucklers  to  the  dartsO-^ 
[while]  with  their  right  hands  they  grasp  the  battlement  J" 
On  the  other  hand,  the  Trojans  tear  down  the  turrets  and 
roofs  of  their  houses  ;  with  these  weapons,  since  they  see 
the  extremity,  they  seek  to  defend  themselves  now  in 
their  last  death-struggle,  and  tumble  down  the  gilded  raft- 
ers, those  stately  ornaments  of  their  ancestors :  others 
with  drawn  swords  beset  the  gates  below;  these  they 
guard  in  a  firm,  compact  body.    Our  ardour  is  restored  ' 
to  relieve  the  royal  palace,  support  our  friends  with  aid 
and  impart  fresh  strength  to  the  vanquished.    There  wa^ 
a  passage,  a  secret  entry,  a  free  communication  between 
the  palaces  of  Priam,  a  neglected  postern-gate,  by  which 


50  j^NKlB.  B.  II.  455-485 

unfortunate  Andromache,  while  the  kingdom  stood,  was 
often  wont  to  resort  to  her  parents-in-law  without  retinue, 
and  to  lead  the  boy  Astyanax  to  his  grand-sire.    I  mount 
up  to  the  roof  of  the  highest  battlement,  whence  the  dis- 
tressed Trojans  were  hurling  unavailing  darts.    With  our 
swords  assailing  all  around  a  turret,  situated  on  a  precipice, 
and  shooting  up  its  towering  top  to  the  stars,  (whence  we 
were  wont  to  survey  all  Troy,  the  fleet  of  Greece,  and  all 
the  Grecian  camp,)  where  the  topmost  story  made  the 
joints  more  apt  to  give  way,  we  tear  it  from  its  deep  ' 
foundation,  and  push  it  on  [our  foes].    Suddenly  tum- 
bling down,  it  brings  thundering  desolation  with  it,  and 
falls  with  wide  havoc  on  the  Grecian  troops.    But  others 
succeed :  meanwhile,  neither  stones,  nor  any  sort  of  mis- 
sile weapons,  cease  to  fly.   Just  before  the  vestibule,  and 
at  the  outer  gate,  Pyrrhus  exults,  glittering  in  arms  and 
gleamy  brass ;  as  when  a  snake  [comes  forth]  to  light, 
having  fed  on  noxious  herbs,  whom,  bloated  [with  poison] , 
the  frozen  winter  hid  under  the  earth,  now  renewed,  and 
sleek  with  youth,  after  casting  his  skin,  with  breast  erect 
he  rolls  up  his  slippery  back,  reared  to  the  sun,  and 
brandishes  a  three-forked  tongue  in  his  mouth.    At  the 
same  time  bulky  Periphas  and  Automedon,  charioteer  to 
Achilles,  [now  Pyrrhus']  armour-bearer  ;  at  the  same  all 
the  youth  from  Scyros  advance  to  the  wall,  and  toss 
brands  to  the  roof.    Pyrrhus  himself  in  the  front,  snatch- 
ing up  a  battle-axe,  beats  through  the  stubborn  gates,  and 
labours  to  tear  the  brazen  posts  from  the  hinges ;  and 
now,  having  hewn  away  the  bars,  he  dug  through  the  firm 
boards,  and  made  a  large,  wide-mouthed  breach.  The 
palace  within  is  exposed  to  view,  and  the  long  galleries 
are  discovered :  the  sacred  recesses  of  Priam  and  the 
ancient  kings  are  exposed  to  view ;  and  they  see  armed 
men  standing  at  the  gate. 


u  n  486-512. 


61 


As  for  the  inner  palace,  it  is  filled  with  mingled  groans 
and  doleful  uproar,  and  the  hollow  rooms  all  throughout 
howl  with  female  yells:  their  shrieks  strike  the  golden 
stars.  Then  the  trembling  matrons  roam  through  the 
spacious  halls,  and  in  embraces  hug  the  door-posts,  and 
2ling  to  them  with  their  lips.  Pyrrhus  presses  on  with  all 
his  father's  violence :  nor  bolts,  nor  guards  themselves,  are 
able  to  sustain.  The  gate,  by  repeated  battering  blows, 
gives  way,  and  the  doorrposts,  torn  from  their  hinges, 
tumble  to  the  ground.^The  Greeks  make  their  way  hyi 
force,  burst  a  passage,  and,  being  admitted,  butcher  the 
first  they  meet,  and  fill  the  places  all  about  with  their 
troops.  Not  with  such  fury  a  river  pours  on  the  fields  its 
heavy  torrent,  and  sweeps  away  herds  with  their  stalls 
over  all  the  plains,  when  foaming  it  has  burst  away  from 
its  broken  banks,  and  borne  down  opposing  mounds  with 
its  whirling  current.  I  myself  have  beheld  Neoptolemus 
raving  with  bloody  rage,  and  the  two  sons  of  Atreus  at  the 
gate :  I  have  beheld  Hecuba,  and  her  hundred  daughters- 
in-law,  and  Priam  at  the  altar,  defiling  with  his  blood  the 
fires  which  himself  had  consecrated.  Those  fifty  bed- 
chambers, so  great  hopes  of  descendants,  those  doorSj  that 
proudly  shone  with  barbaric  gold  and  spoils,  were  levelled 
with  the  ground:  where  the  flames  relent,  the  Greeks 
take  place. 

Perhaps,  too,  you  are  curious  to  hear  what  was  Priam's 
fate.  As  soon  as  he  beheld  the  catastrophe  of  the  taken 
city,  and  his  palace  gates  broken  down,  and  the  enemy 
planted  in  the  middle  of  his  private  apartments,  the  aged 
monarch,  with  unavailing  aim,  buckles  on  his  shoulders 
(trembling  with  years)  arms  long  disused,  girds  himself 
with  his  useless  sword,  and  rushes  into  the  thickest  of  the 
foes,  resolute  on  death.  In  the  centre  of  the  palace,  and 
under  the  bare  canopy  of  heaven,  stood  a  large  altar,  and 


52 


B  II.  513-543. 


an  aged  laurel  near  it,  overhanging  the  altar,  and  encir- 
cling the  household  gods  with  its  shade.  Here  Hecuba 
and  her  daughters  (like  pigeons  flying  precipitantly  from 
a  blackening  tempest)  crowded  together,  and  embracing 
the  shrines  of  the  gods,  vainly  sat  round  the  altars.  But 
as  soon  as  she  saw  Priam  clad  in  youthful  arms,  unhappy 
spouse,  she  cries,  What  dire  purpose  has  prompted  thee 
to  brace  on  these  arms?  or  whither  art  thou  hurrying? 
The  present  conjuncture  hath  no  need  of  such  aid,  nor 
such  defence :  though  even  my  Hector  himself  were  here 
[it  would  not  avail].  Hither  repair,  now  that  all  hope  is 
lost ;  this  altar  will  protect  us  all,  or  here  you  [and  we] 
shall  die  together.  Having  thu^  said,  she  took  the  old 
man  to  her  embraces,  and  placed  him  on  the  sacred  seat. 
But  lo !  Polites,  one  of  Priam's  sons,  who  had  escaped 
from  the  sword  of  Pyrrhus,  through  darts,  through  foes, 
flies  along  the  long  galleries,  and  wounded  traverses  the 
waste  halls.  Pyrrhus,  all  on  fire,  pursues  him  with  the 
hostile  weapon,  is  just  grasping  him  with  his  hand,  and 
presses  on  him  with  the  spear.  Soon  as  he  at  length  got 
into  the  sight  and  presence  of  his  parents,  he  dropped 
down,  and  poured  cut  his  life  with  a  stream  of  blood. 
Upon  this,  Priam,  though  now  held  in  the  very  midst  of 
death,  yet  did  not  forbear,  nor  spared  his  tongue  and  pas- 
sion :  But  may  the  gods,  he  cries,  if  there  be  any  justice  in 
heaven  to  regard  such  events,  give  ample  retribution  and 
due  reward  for  this  wickedness,  for  these  thy  audacious 
crimes,  to  thee  who  hast  made  me  to  witness  the  death  of 
my  own  son,  and  defiled  a  father'  eyes  with  the  sight  of 
\^blood.:X  yet  he  from  whom  you  falsely  claim  your  birth, 
even  Achilles,  was  not  thus  barbarous  to  Priam,  though 
his  enemy,  but  paid  some  reverence  to  the  laws  of  nations, 
and  a  suppliant's  right,  restored  my  Hector's  lifeless 
corpse  to  be  buried,  and  sent  me  back  into  my  kingdom- 


Jtn.  544-574. 


53 


Thus  spoke  the  old  man,  and,  without  any  force,  threw  a 
feeble  dart :  which  was  instantly  repelled  by  the  hoarse 
brass,  and  hung  on  the  highest  boss  of  the  buckler  with- 
out any  execution.  To  whom  Pyrrhus  replies,  These 
tidings  then  yourself  shall  bear,  and  go  with  the  message 
to  my  father,  the  son  of  Peleus :  forget  not  to  inform  him  of 
my  cruel  deeds,  and  of  his  degenerate  son  Neoptolemus : 
now  die.  With  these  words  he  dragged  him  to  the  Yery 
altar,  trembling  and  sliding  in  the  streaming  gore  of  his 
son  :  and  with  his  left  hand  grasped  his  twisted  hair,  and 
with  his  right  unsheathed  his  glittering  sword,  and  plunged 
it  into  his  side  up  to  the  hilt.  Such  was  the  end  of  Priam's 
fate :  this  was  the  final  doom  allotted  to  him,  having  be- 
fore his  eyes  Troy  consumed,  and  its  towers  laid  in  ruins ; 
once  the  proud  monarch  over  so  many  nations  and  coun- 
tries of  Asia :  now  his  mighty  trunk  lies  extended  on  the 
shore,  the  head  torn  from  the  shoulders,  and  a  nameless 
corpse.  Then,  and  not  till  then,  fierce  horror  assailed  me 
round :  I  stood  aghast ;  the  image  of  my  dear  father  arose 
to  my  mind,  when  I  saw  the  king,  of  equal  age,  breath- 
ing out  his  soul  by  a  cruel  wound ;  Creiisa,  forsaken,  came 
into  my  mind,  my  rifled  house,  and  the  fate  of  the  little 
liilus.  I  look  about,  and  survey  what  troops  were  to  stand 
by  me.  All  had  left  me  through  despair,  and  flung  their 
fainting  bodies  to  the  ground,  or  gave  them  to  the  flames. 
And  thus  now  I  remained  all  alone,  when  I  espy  Helen 
keeping  watch  in  the  temple  of  Vesta,  and  silently  kirk- 
ing  in  a  secret  corner :  the  bright  flames  give  me  light 
as  I  am  roving  on,  and  throwing  my  eyes  around  on  every 
object.  She,  the  common  Fury  of  Troy  and  her  country, 
dreading  the  Trojans,  her  deadly  foes,  upon  account  of 
their  ruined  country,  and  the  vengeance  of  the  Greeks, 
with  the  fierce  resentment  of  her  deserted  lord,  had  hidden 
herselfj  and  was  sitting  near  the  altars,  an  odious  sight. 


54 


B.  n.  575-60(3. 


Flames  were  kindled  in  my  soul :  rage  possessed  me  to 
avenge  my  falling  country,  and  take  the  vengeance  her 
guilt'  deserved.  Shall  she  then  with  impunity  behold 
Sparta  and  her  country  Mycenae,  and  go  off  a  queen,  after 
she  had  gained  her  triumph?  shall  she  see  her  marriage- 
bed,  her  home,  her  fathers,  her  sons,  accompanied  with  a 
retinue  of  Trojan  dames  and  Phrygian  women  her  slaves? 
shall  Priam  have  fallen  by  the  sword,  shall  Troy  have  burnt 
with  the  flame,  shall  the  Trojan  shore  so  often  be  drenched 
^'v^ in  blood?  It  must  not  be  so:  for  though  there  be  no 
memorable  name  in  punishing  a  woman,  nor  any  honour 
in  such  a  victory,  yet  shall  I  be  applauded  for  having  ex- 
tinguished a  wicked  wretch,  and* for  inflicting  on  her  the 
punishment  she  deserves :  besides,  it  will  be  a  pleasure 
to  gratify  my  desire  of  burning  revenge,  and  to  give  satis- 
faction to  the  ashes  of  my  friends.  Thus  was  I  rapidly 
reflecting,  and  furiously  agitated  in  my  soul,  when  my 
benign  mother  presented  herself  to  my  view  with  such 
brightness  as  I  had  never  seen  before,  and  amidst  the 
night  shone  forth  in  pure  light,  displaying  all  the 
goddess,  with  such  dignity,  such  stature,  as  she  is  wont 
to  show  to  the  immortals :  she  restrained  me  fast  held  by 
the  right  hand,  and  besides,  let  fall  these  words  from  her 
rosy  lips :  My  son,  what  high  provocation  kindles  thy 
ungoverned  rage?  why  art  thou  raving?  or  whither  art 
thy  regards  to  me  fled?  Will  you  not  first  see  in  what 
situation  you  have  left  your  father  Anchises,  encumbered 
with  age?  whether  your  spouse  Creiisa  be  in  life,  and  the 
boy  Ascanius,  around  whom  the  Grecian  troops  from 
every  quarter  reel  ?  and,  do  not  my  care  oppose,  the  flames 
will  have  already  carried  off,  or  the  cruel  sword  imbibed 
their  blood.  Not  the  features  of  lyacedsemonian  Helen, 
odious  in  your  eyes,  nor  Paris  blamed ;  but  the  godSj  the 
unrelenting  gods,  overthrow  this  powerful  realm,  and 


B.  n.  603-634. 


55 


level  the  towering  tops  of  Troy  with  the  ground.  Turn 
your  eyes ;  for  I  will  dissipate  every  cloud  which  now, 
intercepting  the  view,  bedims  your  mortal  sight,  and 
spreads  a  humid  veil  of  mist  around  you :  fear  not  you  the 
commands  of  a  parent,  nor  refuse  to  obey  her  orders. 
Here,  where  you  see  scattered  ruins,  and  stones  torn 
from  stones,  and  smoke  and  waves  ascending  with 
mingled  dust,  Neptune  shakes  the  walls  and  foundations 
loosened  by  his  mighty  trident,  and  overturns  the  whole 
city  from  its  basis.     Here  Juno,  extremely  fierce,  is 
posted  in  the  front  to  guard  the  Scaean  gate,  and  girt  with 
the  sword  with  furious  summons  calls  from  the  ships  her 
social  band.  Tritonian  Pallas  (see  !)  hath  now  planted  her- 
self on  a  lofty  turret,  refulgent  in  a  cloud,  and  with  her 
Gorgon  terrible.    The  Sire  himself  supplies  the  Greeks 
with  courage  and  strength  for  victory :  himself  stirs  up 
the  gods  against  the  arms  of  Troy.    Speed  thy  flight,  my 
son,  and  put  a  period  to  thy  toils.    In  every  danger  I  will 
stand  by  you,  and  safe  set  you  down  in  your  father's 
palace.    She  said,  and  hid  herself  in  the  thick  shades  of 
night.    Direful  forms  appear,  and  the  mighty  powers 
of  the  gods,  adverse  to  Troy.    Then,  indeed,  all  Ilium 
seemed  to  me  at  once  to  sink  in  the  flames,  and  Troy, 
built  by  Neptune,  to  be  overturned  from  its  lowest  found-  ' 
ation :  even  as  when  with  emulous  keenness  the  swains 
labour  to  fell  an  ash  that  long  hath  stood  on  a  high  moun- 
tain, hewing  it  about  with  iron  and  many  an  axe,  ever  and 
anon  it  threatens,  and  waving  its  locks,  nods  with  its 
shaken  top,  till  gradually  by  wounds  subdued,  it  hath 
groaned  its  last,  and  torn  from  the  ridge  of  the  mountain, 
draws  along  with  it  ruin.    Down  I  come,  and  under  the 
conduct  of  the  god,  clear  my  way  amidst  flames  and  foes : 
the  darts  give  place,  and  the  flames  retire.    And  now, 
When  arrived  at  the  gates  of  my  paternal  seat  and  ancient 
3* 


56 


B.  II.  635-663. 


house,  my  father,  whom  I  was  desirous  first  to  remove  to 
the  high  mountains,  and  whom  I  first  sought,  obstinately 
refuses  to  prolong  his  life  after  the  ruin  of  Troy,  and  to 
suffer  exile.  You,  says  he,  who  are  full  of  youthful  blood, 
and  whose  powers  remain  firm  in  all  their  strength,  do 
you  attempt  your  flight.  As  for  me,  had  the  powers  of 
heaven  designed  I  should  prolong  my  life,  they  had  pre- 
served to  me  this  house :  enough  it  is,  and  more  than 
enough,  that  I  have  seen  one  catastrophe,  and  outlived 
the  taking  of  this  city.  Thus,  oh  leave  me  thus  with  the 
last  farewell  to  my  body  laid  in  its  dying  posture.  With 
this  hand  will  I  find  death  myself.  The  enemy  will  pity 
me,  and  lust  for  my  spoils.  Triyial  is  the  loss  of  sepul- 
ture. I  have  long  since  been  lingering  out  a  length  of 
years,  hated  by  ihh  gods,  and  useless  from  the  time  when 
the  father  of  gods,  and  sovereign  of  men,  blasted  me  with 
the  winds  of  his  thunder,  and  struck  me  with  lightning. 

Such  purpose  declaring,  he  persisted,  and  remained 
unalterable.  On  the  other  hand,  I,  my  wife  Creiisa,  As- 
canius,  and  the  whole  family,  bursting  forth  into  tears, 
[besought]  my  father  not  to  involve  all  with  himself,  nor 
hasten  our  impending  fate.  He  still  refuses,  and  perse- 
veres in  his  purpose,  and  in  the  same  settled  position. 
Once  more  I  fly  to  my  arms,  and,  in  extremity  of  distress, 
long  for  death :  for  what  expedient  had  I  left,  or  what 
chance  of  hope?  Could  you  hope,  sire,  that  I  could  stir 
one  foot  while  you  were  left  behind  ?  could  such  impiety 
drop  from  a  parent's  lips?  If  it  is  the  will  of  the  gods 
that  nothing  of  this  great  city  be  preserved ;  if  this  be 
your  settled  purpose,  and  you  will  even  involve  yourself 
and  yours  in  the  wreck  of  Troy  ;  the  way  lies  open  to 
that  death  of  which  you  are  so  fond.  Forthwith  Pyrrhus, 
[reeking]  from  the  efl'usion  of  Priam's  blood,  will  be 
here,  who  kills  the  son  before  the  father's  eves,  and  then 


B.  n.  664-693. 


57 


the  father  at  the  altar.  Was  it  for  this,  my  benign  mother, 
you  saved  me  through  darts,  through  flames,  to  see  the 
enemy  in  the  midst  of  these  recesses,  and  to  see  Asca- 
nius,  my  father,  andCreiisa  by  his  side,  butchered  in  one 
another's  blood?  Arms,  my  men,  bring  arms  ;  this  day, 
which  IS  our  kst,  calls  upon  us,  vanquished  as  we  arco 
Give  me  back  to  the  Greeks  :  let  me  visit  once  more  the 
fight  renewed  :  never  shall  we  all  die  unavenged  this  day. 

Thus  I  again  gird  on  my  sword :  and  I  thrust  my  left 
hand  into  my  buckler,  bracing  it  fitly  on,  and  rushed  out 
of  the  palace.  But  lo  !  my  wife  clung  to  me  in  the 
threshold,  grasping  my  feet,  and  held  out  to  his  father 
t^^  little  liilus  :  If,  [says  she,]  you  go  with  a  resulution 
to  perish,  snatch  us  with  you  to  share  all :  but  if,  from  ex- 
perience, you  repose  confidence  in  those  arms  you  have 
assumed,  let  this  house  have  your  first  protection  :  To 
whom  are  you  abandoning  the  tender  liilus,  your  sire, 
and  me  once  called  your  wife?  Thus  loudly  expostulat- 
ing, she  filled  the  whole  palace  with,  her  groans,  wheri 
a  sudden  and  wondrous  prodigy  arises^^for  amid  the  erh- 
braces  and  parting  words  of  his  mourning  parents,  lo ! 
the  fluttering  tuft  from  the  top  of  liilus'  head  is  seen  to 
emit  light,  and  with  gentle  touch  the  lambent  flame 
glides  harmless  along  his  hair,  and  feeds  around  his  tem- 
ples. We,  quaking,  trembled  for  fear,  brush  the  blazing 
locks,  and  quench  the  holy  fire  with  fountain-water.  But 
father  Anchises  joyful  raised  his  eyes  to  the  stars,  and 
stretched  his  hands  to  heaven  with  his  voice  ;  Almighty 
Jove,  if  thou  art  moved  with  any  supplications,  vouchsafe 
to  regard  us  ;  we  ask  no  more  :  and  O  sire,  if  by  our  piety 
we  deserve  it,  grant  us  then  thy  aid,  and  ratify  these 
omens.  Scarcely  had  my  aged  sire  thus  said,  when,  with 
a  sudden  peal,  it  thundered  on  the  left,  and  a  star,  that 
fell  from  the  skies,  drawing  a  fiery  train,  shot  through  the 


58 


B.  II  694r-724. 


snade  with  a  profusion  of  light.  We  could  see  it,  gliding 
over  the  high  tops  of  the  palace,  lose  itself  in  the  woods 
of  Mount  Ida,  full  in  our  view,  and  marking  out  the  way : 
then  all  along  its  course  an  indented  path  shines,  and  all 
the  place,  a  great  way  round,  smokes  with  sulphureous  ^ 
steams.  And  now  my  father,  overcome,  raises  himself 
to  heaven,  addresses  the  gods,  and  pays  adoration  to  the 
holy  star  :  Now,  now  is  no  delay  :  I  am  all  submission, 
and  where  you  lead  the  way  I  am  with  you.  Ye  gods  of 
my  fathers,  save  our  family,  save  my  grandson.  From 
you  this  omen  came,  and  Troy  is  at  your  disposal.  Now, 
son,  I  resign  myself  indeed,  nor  refuse  to  accompany  you 
in  your  expedition.  He  said,  and  now  throughout  the 
city  the  flames  are  more  distinctly  heard,  and  the  con- 
flagration rolls  the  torrents  of  fire  nearer.  Come  then, 
dearest  father,  place  yourself  on  my  neck ;  with  these 
shoulders  will  I  support  you,  nor  shall  that  burden  op- 
press me.  However  things  fall  out,  we  both  shall  share 
either  one  common  danger  or  one  preservation  :  let  the 
boy  liilus  be  my  companion,  and  my  wife  may  trace  my 
steps  at  some  distance.  Ye  servants,  heedfully  attend  to 
what  I  say.  In  your  way  from  the  city  is  a  rising  ground, 
and  an  ancient  temple  of  deserted  Ceres  ;  and  near  it  an 
aged  cypress,  preserved  for  many  year  by  the  religious 
veneration  of  our  forefathers.  To  this  one  seat  by  sev- 
eral ways  we  will  repair.  Do  you,  father,  take  in  thy 
hand  the  sacred  symbols,  and  the  gods  of  our  country. 
For  me,  just  come  from  war,  from  so  fierce  and  recent 
bloodshed,  to  touch  them  would  be  profanation,  till  I 
have  purified  myself  in  the  living  stream.  This  said,  I 
spread  a  garment  and  a  tawny  lion's  hide  over  my  broad 
shoulders  and  submissive  neck  ;  and  stoop  to  the  bur- 
then :  little  liilus  is  linked  in  my  right  hand,  and  trips 
after  his  father  with  unequal  steps  :  my  spouse  comes  up 


B.  n.  725-755. 


59 


behind.  We  haste  away  through  the  gloomy  paths  :  and 
I,  whom  lately  no  showers  of  darts  could  move,  nor 
Greeks  enclosing  me  in  a  hostile  band,  am  now  terrified 
with  every  breath  of  wind  ;  every  sound  alarms  me  anx- 
ious, and  equally  in  dread  for  my  companion  and  my 
.burthen.  By  this  time  I  approached  the  gates,  and 
thought  I  had  overpassed  all  the  way,  when  suddenly  a 
thick  sound  of  feet  seems  to  invade  my  ears  just  at  hand ; 
and  my  father,  stretching  his  eyes  through  the  gloom, 
calls  aloud,  Fly,  fly,  my  son,  they  are  upon  you :  I  see 
the  burnished  shields  and  glittering  brass.  Here,  in  my 
consternation,  some  unfriendly  deity  or  other  confounded 
and  bereaved  me  of  my  reason  ;  for  while  in  my  jour- 
ney I  trace  the  by-paths,  and  forsake  the  known  beaten 
tracks,  alas  I  I  know  not  whether  my  wife  Creiisa  was 
snatched  from  wretched  me  by  cruel  fate,  or  lost  her 
way,  or  through  fatigue  stopped  short ;  nor  did  these 
eyes  ever  see  her  more.  Nor  did  I  observe  that  she  was 
lost,  or  reflect  with  myself,  till  we  were  come  to  the  ris- 
ing ground,  and  the  sacred  seat  of  ancient  Ceres  :  here, 
at  length,  when  all  were  convened,  she  alone  was  wanting, 
and  gave  disappointment  to  all  our  retinue,  especially  to 
her  son  and  husband.  Whom  did  I  frantic  not  accuse,  of 
gods  or  men  ?  or  of  what  more  cruel  scene  was  I  a  spectator 
in  all  the  desolation  of  the  city  ?  To  my  friends  I  com- 
mend Ascanius,  my  father  Anchises,  with  the  gods  of  Troy, 
and  lodge  them  secretly  in  a  winding  valley.  I  myself  re- 
pair back  to  the  city,  and  brace  on  my  shining  armour.  I 
am  resolved  to  renew  every  adventure,  revisit  all  the  quar- 
ters of  Troy,  and  expose  my  life  once  more  to  all  dangers. 
First  of  all,  I  return  to  the  walls,  and  the  dark  entry  of 
the  gate  by  which  I  had  set  out,  and  backward  unravel 
my  steps  with  care  amidst  the  darkness,  and  run  them 
over  with  my  eye.    Horror  on  all  sides,  and  at  the  same 


60 


B.  n.  755-784 


time  the  very  silence  affrights  my  soul.  Thence  home- 
ward I  bent  my  way,  lest  by  chance,  by  any  chance,  she 
had  moved  thither :  the  Greeks  had  now  rushed  in,  and 
were  masters  of  the  whole  house.  In  a  moment  the  devour- 
ing conflagration  is  rolled  up  in  sheets  by  the  wind  to  the 
lofty  roof;  the  flames  mount  above ;  the  fiery  whirlwind 
rages  to  the  skies.  I  advance,  and  revisit  Priam's  royal 
seat,  and  the  citadel.  And  now  in  the  desolate  cloisters, 
Juno's  sanctuary,  Phoenix  and  the  execrable  Ulysses,  a 
chosen  guard,  were  watching  the  booty:  thither,  from  all 
quarters,  the  precious  Trojan  moveables,  saved  from  the 
conflagration  of  the  temples,  the  tables  of  the  gods,  the 
massy  golden  goblets,  and  plundered  vestments,  are 
amassed :  boys  and  timorous  matrons,  stand  all  around  in 
a  long  train.  Now  adventuring  even  to  dart  my  voice 
through  the  shades,  I  filled  the  streets  with  outcry,  and 
in  anguish,  with  vain  repetition,  again  and  again,  called 
on  Creiisa.  While  I  was  in  this  search,  and  with  inces- 
sant fury  ranging  through  all  quarters  of  the  town,  the 
mournful  ghost  and  shade  of  my  Creiisa's  self  appeared 
before  my  eyes,  her  figure  larger  than  I  had  known  it.  I 
stood  aghast !  my  hair  rose  on  end,  and  my  voice  clung 
to  my  jaws.  Then  this  she  bespeaks  me,  and  relieves  my 
cares  with  these  words  :  My  darling  spouse,  what  pleasure 
have  you  thus  to  indulge  a  grief  which  is  but  madness? 
These  events  do  not  occur  without  the  will  of  the  gods. 
It  is  not  allowed  you  to  carry  Creiisa  hence  to  accompany 
^ou,  nor  is  it  permitted  by  the  great  ruler  of  heaven  su- 
preme. In  long  banishment  you  must  roam,  and  plough 
the  vast  expanse  of  the  ocean :  to  the  land  of  Hesperia 
you  shall  come,  where  the  Lydian  Tiber,  with  his  gentle 
current,  glides  through  a  rich  land  of  heroes.  There, 
prosperous  state,  a  crown,  and  royal  spouse,  await  you; 
dry  up  your  tears  for  your  beloved  Creiisa.    I,  of  Dar- 


B.  II.  787-804.    B.  III.  1-3. 


61 


danus'  noble  line,  and  the  daughter-in-law  of  divine  Venus, 
shall  not  see  the  proud  seats  of  the  Myrmidons  and 
Dolopes,  nor  go  to  serve  the  Grecian  dames;  but  the 
great  mother  of  the  gods  detains  me  upon  these  coasts. 
And  now  farewell,  and  preserve  your  affection  to  our 
common  son. 

With  these  words  she  left  me  in  tears,  ready  to  say  many 
things,  and  vanished  into  thin  air.  There  thrice  I  attempted 
to  throw  my  arms  around  her  neck  ;  thrice  the  phantom, 
grasped  in  vain,  escaped  my  hold,  swift  as  the  winged 
winds,  and  resembling  most  a  fleeting  dream.  Thus  having 
spent  the  night,  I  at  length  revisited  my  associates.  And 
here,  to  my  surprise,  I  found  a  great  confluence  of  new  com- 
panions :  matrons,  and  men,  and  youths,  drawn  together 
to  share  our  exile,  a  piteous  throng  1  From  all  sides  they 
convened,  resolute  [to  follow  me]  with  their  souls  and 
fortunes,  into  whatever  country  I  was  inclined  to  conduct 
them  over  the  sea.  By  this  time,  the  bright  morning 
star  was  rising  on  the  craggy  tops  of  lofty  Ida,  and  ushered 
in  the  day :  the  Greeks  held  the  entrance  of  the  gates 
blocked  up  ;  nor  had  we  any  prospect  of  relief.  I  gave 
way,  and  bearing  up  my  father,  made  towards  the  moun- 
tain. 


BOOK  III. 

In  the  Third  Book,  ^neas  continues  his  narration,  by  a  minute  account  of 
his  voyage,  the  places  he  visited,  and  the  perils  he  encountered,  from  the 
time  of  leaving  the  shores  of  Troas,  until  he  landed  at  Drepanum,  in 
Sicily,  where  he  buried  his  father.— This  Book,  which  comprehends  a 
period  of  about  seven  years,  ends  with  the  dreadful  storm,  with  the  descrip. 
tion  of  which  the  First  Book  opened. 

AifTKR  it  had  seemed  fit  to  the  gods  to  overthrow  the 
power  of  Asia,  and  Priam's  race,  undeserving  [of  such  a 
fate],  and  stately  Ilium  fell,  and  while  the  whole  of  Troy, 


62 


B.  m.  3-30. 


built  by  Neptune,  smokes  on  the  ground ;  we  are  deter- 
mined, by  revelations  from  the  gods,  to  go  in  quest  of 
distant  retreats  in  exile,  and  unpeopled  lands ;  we  fit  out 
a  fleet  just  under  the  walls  of  Antandros  and  the  mountains 
of  Phrygian  Ida ;  and  draw  our  forces  together,  uncertain 
whither  the  Fates  point  our  way,  where  it  shall  be  given 
us  to  settle.  Scarcely  had  the  first  summer  begun,  when 
my  father  Anchises  gave  command  to  hoist  the  sails,  in 
accordance  with  the  Fates.  Then  with  tears  1 1  eave  the 
shores  and  ports  of  my  country,  and  the  plains  where  Troy 
once  stood:  an  exile  I  launch  forth  into  the  deep,  with 
my  associates,  my  son,  my  household  gods,  and  the  great 
gods  [of  my  country] . 

At  a  distance  lies  a  martial  land,  peopled  throughout 
its  wide-extended  plains,  (the  Thracians  cultivate,  the 
soil,)  over  which  in  former  times  fierce  lyycurgus  reigned : 
an  ancient  hospitable  retreat  for  Troy,  and  whose  gods 
were  leagued  with  ours,  while  fortune  was  with  us.  Hither 
I  am  carried,  and  erect  my  first  walls  along  the  winding 
shore,  entering  with  Fates  unkind ;  and  from  my  owp^  \ 
name  I  call  the  citizens  ^neades.  I  was  performing 
sacred  rites  to  my  mother  Venus,  and  the  gods,  the  patrons 
of  my  works  begun  ;  and  to  the  exalted  king  of  the  im- 
mortals I  was  sacrificing  a  sleek  bull  on  the  shore.  Near 
at  hand  there  chanced  to  be  a  rising  ground,  on  whose  top 
were  young  cornel-trees,  and  a  myrtle  rough  with  thick 
spear-like  branches.  I  came  up  to  it,  and  attempting  to 
tear  from  the  earth  the  verdant  wood,  that  I  might  covet 
the  altars  with  the  leafy  boughs,  I  observed  a  dreadful 
prodigy,  and  wondrous  to  relate.  For  from  that  tree 
which  first  is  torn  from  the  soil,  its  rooted  fibres  being 
burst  assunder,  drops  of  black  blood  distil,  and  stain  the 
ground  with  gore :  cold  terror  shakes  my  limbs,  and  my 
chill  blood  is  congealed  with  fear.    I  again  essay  to  teat 


off  a  limber  bough  from  another,  and  thoroughly  explore 
the  latent  cause :  and  from  the  rind  of  that  other  also  the 
purple  blood  descends.  Raising  in  my  mind  many  an  anx- 
ious thought,  I  with  reverence  besought  the  rural  nymphs, 
and  father  Mars,  who  presides  over  the  Thracian  territories, 
kindly  to  prosper  the  vision  and  avert  evil  from  the  omeuc 
But  when  I  attempted  the  boughs  a  third  time  with  a  more 
vigorous  effort,  and  on  my  knees  struggled  against  the 
opposing  mould,  (shall  I  speak  or  shall  I  forbear?)  a 
piteous  groan  is  heard  from  the  bottom  of  the  rising 
ground,  and  a  voice  sent  forth  reaches  my  ears :  ^neas, 
why  dost  thou  tear  an  unhappy  wretch?    Spare  me,  now 
that  I  am  in  my  grave ;  forbear  to  pollute  with  guilt  thy 
pious  hands :  Troy  brought  me  forth  no  stranger  to  you ; 
nor  is  it  from  the  trunk  this  blood  distils.    Ah,  fly  this 
barbarous  land,  fly  the  avaricious  shore !    For  Polydore 
am  I :  here  an  iron  crop  of  darts  hath  overwhelmed  me, 
transfixed,  and  over  me  shot  up  in  pointed  javelins.  Then, 
indeed,  depressed  at  heart  with  perplexing  fear,  I  was 
stunned ;  my  hair  stood  on  end,  and  my  voice  clung  to  my 
jaws.    This  Polydore  unhappy  Priam  had  formerly  sent  in 
secrecy  with  a  great  weight  of  gold  to  be  brought  up  by 
the  king  of  Thrace,  when  he  now  began  to  distrust  the 
arms  of  Troy,  and  saw  the  city  with  close  seige  blocked 
up.  He,  as  soon  as  the  power  of  the  Trojans  were  crushed, 
and  their  fortune  gone,  espousing  Agamemnon's  interest 
and  victorious  arms,  breaks  every  sacred  bond,  assassi- 
nates Polydore,  and  by  violence  possesses  his  gold.  Cursed 
ihirst  of  gold,  to  what  dost  thou  not  drive  the  hearts  of 
men  1    After  fear  left  my  bones,  I  report  the  portents  of 
the  gods  to  our  chosen  leaders,  an^  chiefly  to  my  father,  ^^jj 
and  demand  what  their  opinion  iSv)kill  are  unanimous  ±o  ^ 
quit  that  accursed  land,  abandon  the  polluted  society,  and 
spread  the  sails  to  the  winds.  Therefore  we  renew  funeral 


^NEID.  B.m.  62-89. 

ceremonies  to  Polydore,  and  a  large  mound  of  earth  is 
heaped  up  for  the  tomb  :  an  altar  is  reared  to  his  manes, 
mournfully  decked  with  leaden-colored  wreaths  and 
gloomy  cypress ;  and  round  it  the  Trojan  matrons  stand 
,with  hair  dishevelled  according  to  custom.  We  offer  the 
sacrifices  of  the  dead,  bowls  foaming  with  warm  milk, 
and  goblets  of  the  sacred  blood :  we  give  the  soul  repose 
in  the  grave,  and  with  loud  voice  address  to  him  the  last 
farewell. 

This  done,  when  first  we  durst  confide  in  the  main, 
when  the  winds  present  peaceful  seas,  and  the  south  wind 
in  soft  whispering  gales  invites  us  to  the  deep,  my  mates 
launch  the  ships  and  crowd  the  shore.  We  are  wafted 
from  the  port,  and  the  land  and  cities  retreat. 
^  Amidst  the  sea  there  lies  a  charming  spot  of  land, 
sacred  to  [Doris],  (the  mother  of  the  Nereids,)  and 
^gean  Neptune;  which  once  wandering  about  the 
coasts  and  shores,  the  pious  god  who  wields  the  bow  fast 
bound  with  high  Gyaros  and  Mycone,  and  fixed  it  so  as 
to  be  habitable,  and  mock  the  winds.  Hither  I  am  led : 
this  most  peaceful  island  receives  us  to  a  safe  port  after 
our  fatigue.  At  landing  we  pay  veneration  to  the  city  of 
Apollo.  King  Anius,  both  king  of  men  and  priest  of 
Phoebus,  his  temples  bound  with  fillets  and  sacred  laurel, 
comes  up,  and  presently  recognises  his  old  friend  An- 
chises.  We  join  right  hands  in  amity,  and  come  under 
his  roof.  I  venerated  the  temple  of  the  god,  a  structure 
of  ancient  stone,  [and  thus  began]  :  Thymbraean  Apollo, 
^ grant  us,  after  all  our  toils,  some  fixed  mansion  ;  grant 
us  walls  of  defence,  offspring,  and  a  permanent  city  : 
preserve  those  other  towers  of  Troy,  a  remnant  left  by 
the  Greeks  and  merciless  Achilles.  Whom  are  w^e  to 
follow;  or  whither  dost  thou  bid  us  go?  where  fix  our 
residence  ?   Father,  grant  us  a  prophetic  sign,  and  glide 


E.  in.  90-117. 


65 


into  our  minds.  Scarcely  had  I  thus  said,  when  sud- 
denly all  seemed  to  tremble,  both  the  temple  itself,  and 
laurel  of  the  god ;  the  whole  mountain  quaked  around, 
and  the  sanctuary  being  exposed  to  view,  the  tripod 
moaned.  In  humble  reverence  we  fall  to  the  ground, 
and  a  voice  reaches  our  ears  :  Ye  hardy  sons  of  Dar- 
danus,  the  same  land  which  first  produced  you  from  your 
forefather's  stock,  shall  receive  you  in  its  fertile  bosom 
after  all  your  dangers  ;  search  out  your  ancient  mother. 
There  the  family  of  ^neas  shall  rule  over  every  coast, 
and  his  children's  children,  and  they  who  from  them 
shall  spring. 

Thus  Phoebus.  Kmotions  of  great  joy,  with  mingled 
tumult,  arose  ;  and  all  were  seeking  to  know  what  city  is 
designed  ;  whither  Phoebus  calls  us  wandering,  and  wills 
us  to  return.  Then  my  father,  revolving  the  historical 
records  of  ancient  heroes,  says.  Ye  leaders,  give  ear,  and 
learn  what  you  have  to  hope  for.  In  the  middle  of  the 
sea  lies  Crete,  the  island  of  mighty  Jupiter,  where  is 
Mount  Ida,  and  the  nursery  of  our  race.  The  Cretans  in- 
habit a  hundred  mighty  cities,  most  fertile  realms: 
whence  our  mighty  ancestor  Teucrus,  if  I  rightly  remem- 
ber the  tradition,  first  arrived  on  the  Rhoetean  coasts, 
and  chose  the  seat  of  his  kingdom.  No  Ilium  then  nor 
towers  of  Pergamus  were  raised ;  in  the  deep  vales  they 
dwelt.  Hence  came  mother  Cybele,  the  patroness  of  the 
earth,  and  the  brazen  cymbals  of  the  Corybantes,  and 
the  Idaean  grove  ;  hence  that  faithful  secrecy  in  her  sa- 
cred rites  ;  and  harnessed  lions  were  yoked  in  the  chariot 
.  of  their  queen,^Come,  then,  and,  where  the  commands  of 
the  gods  point  out  our  way,  let  us  follow  ;  let  us  appease 
the  winds,  and  seek  the  Gnossian  realms.  Nor  lie  they 
at  the  distance  of  a  long  voyage  :  provided  Jove  be  with 
US,  the  third  day  will  land  our  fleet  on  the  Cretan  coast. 


66 


B.  ni.  118-1451 


This  said,  he  offered  the  proper  sacrifices  on  the  altars, 
a  bull  to  Neptune,  a  bull  to  thee,  O  fair  Apollo  :  a  black 
sheep  to  the  Winter,  and  a  white  one  to  the  propitious 
zephyrs.  A  report  flies  abroad,  that  leader  Idomeneus 
banished,  hath  quitted  his  paternal  kingdom,  and  that 
the  shore  of  Crete  is  deserted  ;  that  its  mansions  are  free 
from  the  enemy,  and  palaces  stand  forsaken.  We  leave 
the  port  of  Ortygia,  and  scud  along  the  sea :  we  cruise 
along  Naxos,  (on  whose  mountains  the  Bacchanals  revel,) 
green  Donysa,  Olearos,  snowy  Paros,  and  the  Cyclades 
scattered  up  and  down  the  main,  and  narrow  seas  thick- 
sown  with  clustered  islands.  With  various  emulation 
the  seamen's  shouts  arise.  The  crew  animate  one  an- 
other:  For  Crete  and  our  ancestors  let  us  speed  our 
course.  A  wind  springing  up  astern,  accompanies  us  on 
our  way,  and  we  at  length  skim  along  to  the  ancient  seats 
of  the  Curetes.  Therefore,  with  eagerness,  I  raise  the 
walls  of  the  so-much-wished-for  city,  and  call  it  the  city 
of  Pergamus  ;  and  I  exhort  my  colony,  pleased  with  the 
name,  to  love  their  hearths,  and  erect  turrets  on  their 
roofs.  And  now  the  ships  were  mostly  drawn  up  on  the 
dry  beach  :  the  youth  were  engaged  in  their  nuptials  and 
new  settlements  ;  I  was  beginning  to  dispense  laws  and 
appropriate  houses ;  when  suddenly,  from  the  infection 
of  the  climate,  a  wasting  and  lamentable  plague  seized 
our  limbs,  the  trees,  the  corn  ;  and  the  year  was  preg- 
nant with  death.  Men  left  their  sweet  lives,  or  dragged 
along  their  sickly  bodies  :  at  the  same  time  the  dog-star 
burned  up  the  barren  fields  :  the  herbs  were  parched,  and 
the  unwholesome  grain  denied  us  sustenance.  My  father 
advises,  that,  measuring  back  the  sea,  we  again  apply  to 
the  oracle  of  Ortygia,  and  Apollo,  and  implore  his  grace, 
[to  know]  what  end  he  will  bring  to  our  forlorn  state ; 


B.  m.  146 -174. 


67 


whence  he  will  bid  us  attempt  a  redress  of  our  calami- 
ties, whither  turn  our  course. 

It  was  night,  and  sleep  reigned  over  all  the  animal 
world.  The  sacred  images  of  the  gods,  and  the  tutelar 
deities  of  Phrygia,  whom  I  had  brought  with  me  from 
Troy  and  the  midst  of  the  flames,  were  seen  to  stand  be- 
fore my  eyes  while  slumbering,  conspicuous  by  a  glare 
of  light,  where  the  full  moon  darted  her  beams  through 
the  inserted  windows.  Then  they  thus  [seemed  to]  ad- 
dress me,  and  dispel  my  cares  with  these  words :  What 
Apollo  would  announce  to  you,  were  you  wafted  to  Ortygia, 
he  here  reveals,  and  lo  1  unasked,  he  sends  us  to  your 
dwelling.  We,  after  Troy  was  comsumed,  followed  thee 
and  thy  arms ;  under  thy  conduct  we  have  crossed  the 
swelling  sea  in  ships  :  we  too  will  exalt  thy  future  race  to 
heaven,  and  give  imperial  power  to  thy  city.  Do  thou  \ 
prepare  walls  mighty  for  mighty  inhabitants,  and  shrink ^^^z 
not  from  the  long  labours  of  thy  voyage.  You  must^ 
change  your  place  of  residence :  these  are  not  the  shores 
that  Delian  Apollo  advises  for  you  ;  nor  was  it  in  Crete  he 
commanded  you  to  settle.  There  is  a  place,  (the  Greeks 
call  it  Hesperia  by  name,)  an  ancient  country,  powerful 
in  arms  and  fertility  of  soil:  the  CE)notrians  peopled  it 
once  ;  now  there  is  a  report,  that  their  descendants  have 
called  the  nation  Italy,  from  the  founder's  name.  These 
are  our  proper  settlements :  hence  Dardanus  sprang,  and 
father  lasius,  from  which  prince  our  race  is  derived. 
Haste,  arise,  and  with  joy  report  to  thy  aged  sire  these 
intimations  of  unquestionable  credibility:  search  out 
Coritus  and  the  Ausonian  lands  ;  Jupiter  forbids  thee  the 
Cretan  territories. 

Astonished  by  this  vision  and  declaration  of  the  gods 
(nor  was  that  a  sound  sleep,  but  methought  I  clearly  dis- 
cerned their  aspect  before  me,  their  fillet-bound  locks. 


68 


B.  m.  175-204. 


and  their  forms  full  in  my  view ;  then  a  cold  sweat  flowed 
over  my  whole  body) ;  I  snatch  my  frame  from  the  couch 
and  lift  up  my  hand  supine  to  heaven  with  my  voice,  and 
pour  hallowed  offerings  on  the  fires.  Having  finished  the 
sacrifice,  with  joy  I  certify  Anchises,  and  disclose  the  fact 
in  order.  He  recognized  the  double  stock,  and  the  dou- 
ble founders  [of  the  Trojan  race],  and  that  he  had  been 
deceived  by  a  modern  mistake  respecting  ancient  coun- 
tries ;  then  he  thus  bespeaks  me :  My  son,  practised  in 
woe  by  the  fates  of  Troy,  Cassandra  alone  predicted  to  me 
that  such  was  to  be  our  fortune.  Now  I  recollect  that  she 
foretold  this  should  be  the  destiny  of  our  race,  and  that 
she  often  spoke  of  Hesperia,  often  of  the  realms  of  Italy. 
But  who  could  believe  that  the  Trojans  were  to  come  to 
the  Hesperian  shore?  or  whom  then  did  the  prophetic 
Cassandra  influence  ?  I^et  us  resign  ourselves  to  Phoebus, 
and,  since  we  are  better  advised,  let  us  follow.  He  said ; 
and,  exulting,  we  all  obey  his  orders.  This  realm  we 
likewise  quit,  and,  leaving  a  few  behind,  unfurl  our  sails, 
and  bound  over  the  spacious  sea  in  our  hollow  barks. 

When  the  ships  held  possession  of  the  deep  and  no  land  is 
any  longer  in  view,  sky  all  around,  and  ocean  all  around  ; 
then  an  azure  rain-cloud  stood  over  my  head,  bringing  on 
night  and  wintry  storm  ;  the  waves  grew  rough  in  the 
gloom ;  the  winds  overturn  the  sea,  and  mighty  surges 
rise :  we  are  tossed  to  and  fro  on  the  face  of  the  boil- 
ing deep :  clouds  enwrapped  the  day,  and  humid  night 
snatched  the  heavens  [from  our  view]  ;  from  the  bursting 
clouds  flashes  of  lightning  redouble.  We  are  driven  from 
our  course,  and  wander  in  unknown  waves.  Palinurus  him- 
self owns  he  is  unable  to  distinguish  day  and  night  by  the 
sky,  and  that  he  has  forgotten  his  course  in  the  mid  sea. 
Thus  for  three  days,  that  could  hardly  be  distinguished  by 
reason  of  the  dark  clouds,  as  many  starless  nights,  we 


B.  ni.  205-236. 


69 


wander  up  and  down  the  ocean.  At  length,  on  the  fourth 
day  land  was  first  seen  to  rise,  to  disclose  the  mountains 
from  afar,  and  roll  up  smoke :  the  sails  are  lowered,  we 
ply  hard  the  oars ;  instantly  the  seamen,  with  exerted 
vigour,  toss  up  the  foam,  and  sweep  the  azure  deep. 

The  shores  of  the  Strophades  first  receive  me  rescued 
from  the  waves.  The  Strophades,  so  called  by  a  Greek 
name,  are  islands  situated  in  the  great  Ionian  Sea ;  which 
direful  Calaeno  and  the  other  Harpies  inhabit,  from  what 
time  Phineus'  palace  was  closed  against  them,  and  they 
were  frighted  from  his  table,  which  they  formerly  haunted. 
No  monster  more  fell  than  they,  no  plague  and  scourge 
of  the  gods  more  cruel,  ever  issue  from  the  Stygian  waves. 
:  They  are  fowls  with  virgin  faces,  most  loathsome  in  their 
bodily  discharge,  hands  hooked,  and  looks  ever  pale  with 
famine.  Hither  conveyed,  as  soon  as  we  entered  the  port, 
lo !  we  observe  joyous  herds  of  cattle  roving  up  and  down 
the  plains  and  flocks  of  goats  along  the  meadows  without  a 
keeper.  We  rush  upon  them  with  our  swords,  and  invoke 
the  gods  and  Jove  himself  to  share  the  booty.  Then  along 
the  winding  shore  we  raise  the  couches,  and  feast  on  the 
rich  repast.  But  suddenly,  with  direful  swoop,  the  Har- 
pies are  upon  us  from  the  mountains,  shake  their  wings 
with  loud  din,  prey  upon  our  banquet,  and  defile  every 
thing  with  their  touch :  at  the  same  time,  together  with 
a  rank  smell,  hideous  screams  arise.  Again  we  spread  our 
tables  in  a  long  recess,  under  a  shelving  rock,  enclosed 
around  with  trees  and  gloomy  shade ;  and  once  more  we 
plant  fire  on  the  altar.  Again  the  noisy  crowd,  from  a 
different  quarter  of  the  sky,  and  obscure  retreats,  flutter 
around  the  prey  with  hooked  claws,  taint  our  viands  with 
their  mouths.  Then  I  enjoin  my  companions  to  take 
arms,  and  wage  war  with  the  horrid  race.  They  do  no 
otherwise  than  bidden,  dispose  their  swords  secretly 


70 


B.  ni.  237-265. 


among  the  grass,  and  conceal  their  shields  out  of  sight. 
Therefore,  as  soon  as  stooping  down  they  raised  their 
screaming  voices  along  the  bending  shores,  Misenus  with 
his  hollow  trumpet  of  brass  gives  the  signal  from  a  lofty- 
place  of  observation :  my  friends  set  upon  them,  and 
engage  in  a  new  kind  of  fight,  to  employ  the  sword  in 
destroying  obscene  sea-fowls.  But  they  neither  suffer 
any  violence  on  their  plumes,  nor  wounds  in  the  body ; 
and,  mounting  up  in  the  air  with  rapid  flight,  leave  be- 
hind them  their  half-eaten  prey,  and  the  ugly  prints  of 
their  feet.  Celaeno  alone  alighted  on  a  high  rock,  the 
prophetess  of  ill,  and  from  her  breast  burst  forth  these 
words :  War  too,  ye  sons  of  I^aom-edon,  is  it  your  purpose 
to  make  war  for  our  oxen  which  you  have  slain,  for  the 
havoc  you  have  made  upon  our  bullocks,  and  to  banish 
the  innocent  Harpies  from  their  hereditary  kingdom? 
Ivcnd  them  an  ear,  and  in  your  minds  fix  these  my  words : 
what  the  almighty  Sire  revealed  to  Phoebus,  Phoebus 
Apollo  to  me,  I  the  chief  of  the  furies  disclose  to  you. 
To  Italy  you  steer  your  course,  and  Italy  you  shall  reach 
after  repeated  invocations  to  the  winds,  and  you  shall  be 
permitted  to  enter  the  port :  but  you  shall  not  surround 
the  given  city  with  walls,  till  dire  famine  and  disaster,  for 
shedding  our  blood,  compel  you  first  to  gnaw  around  and 
eat  up  your  tables  with  your  teeth. 

She  said,  and  on  her  wings  upborne  flew  into  the  wood 
As  for  my  companions,  their  blood,  chiUed  with  sudden 
fear,  stagnated ;  their  minds  sunk :  and  now  they  are  no 
longer  for  arms,  but  urge  me  to  solicit  peace  by  vows 
and  prayers,  whether  they  be  goddesses,  or  cursed  and 
inauspicious  birds.  My  father  Anchises,  with  hands 
spread  forth  from  the  shore,  invokes  the  great  gods,  and 
enjoins  due  honours  to  be  paid  them  :  Ye  gods,  ward  off 
these  threatenings ;  ye  gods,  avert  so  great  a  calamity ; 


B.  ni.  266-295. 


71 


and  propitious  save  your  pious  votaries.  Then  he  orders 
to  tear  the  ropes  from  the  shore,  loose  and  disengage  the 
cables.  The  south  winds  stretch  our  sails  :  we  fly  over 
the  foaming  waves,  where  the  wind  and  pilots  urged  our 
course.  Now  amidst  the  waves  appear  woody  Zacyn- 
thos,  Dulichium,  Same,  and  Neritos,  with  its  steep  rocks 
We  shun  the  cliffs  of  Ithaca,  Ivaertes'  realms,  and  curse 
the  land  that  bred  the  cruel  Ulysses.  Soon  after  this  the 
cloudy  tops  of  Mount  Leucate,  and  [the  temple  of] 
Apollo,  the  dread  of  seamen,  open  to  our  view.  Hither 
we  steer  our  course  oppressed  with  toil,  and  approach 
the  little  city.  The  anchor  is  thrown  out  from  the  prow : 
the  ships  are  ranged  on  the  shore.  Thus  at  length  pos- 
sessed of  wished-for  land,  we  both  perform  a  lustral  sacri- 
fice to  Jupiter,  and  kindle  the  altars  in  order  to  perform 
our  vows,  and  signalize  the  promontory  of  Actium  by 
celebrating  the  Trojan  games.  Our  crew,  having  their 
naked  limbs  besmeared  with  slippery  oil,  exercise  the 
wrestling  matches  of  their  country :  it  delights  us  to 
have  escaped  so  many  Grecian  cities  and  pursued  our 
voyage  through  the  midst  of  our  enemies. 

Meanwhile  the  sun  finishes  the  revolution  of  the  great 
year,  and  frosty  winter  exasperates  the  waves  with  the 
north  winds.  On  the  front  door-posts  [of  the  temple]  I 
set  up  a  buckler  of  hollow  brass,  which  mighty  Abas 
wore,  and  notify  the  action  by  this  verse  :  These  arms 
^neas  [won]  from  the  victorious  Greeks.''  Then  I  or- 
dered [our  crew]  to  leave  the  port,  and  take  their  seats  on 
the  benches.  They  with  emulous  ardour  lash  the  sea, 
and  sweep  the  waves.  In  an  instant  we  lose  sight  of  the 
airy  towers  of  the  Phseacians,  cruise  along  the  coast  of 
Kpirus,  and  enter  the  Chaonian  port,  and  ascend  the  lofty 
city  of  Buthrotus.  Here  a  report  of  facts  scarce  credible 
invades  our  ears,  that  Helenus,  Priam's  son,  was  reigning 


72 


B.  m.  296-322L 


over  Grecian  cities,  possessed  of  the  spouse  and  sceptre 
of  P^-rrhus,  the  grandchild  of  JElacus,  and  that  Andro- 
mache had  again  fallen  to  a  lord  of  her  own  country.  I 
was  amazed,  and  my  bosom  glowed  with  strange  desire 
to  greet  the  hero,  and  learn  so  signal  revolutions  of  for- 
,tune.    I  set  forward  from  the  port,  leaving  the  fleet  and 
shore.    Andromache,  as  it  chanced,  was  then  offering  to 
[Hector's]  ashes  her  anniversary  feast  and  mournful  ob- 
lations before  the  city  in  a  grove,  near  the  stream  of  the 
fictitious  Simois,  and  invoked  the  manes  at  Hector's 
tomb  ;  an  empty  tomb  which  she  had  consecrated  of 
green  turf,  and  two  altars,  incentives  to  her  grief.  As 
soon  as  she  saw  me  coming  up,, and  to  her  amazement 
beheld  the  Trojan  arms  around  me,  terrified  with  a  prod- 
igy so  great,  she  stiffened  at  the  very  sight ;  vital  warmth 
forsook  her  limbs  :  she  sinks  down,  and  at  lengdi,  after 
a  long  interval,  with  faltering  accent  speaks  :  Goddess- 
born,  do  you  present  yourself  to  me  a  real  form,  a  real 
messenger?  Do  you  live?  or,  if  from  you  the  benignant 
light  has  fled,  where  is  Hector  ?    She  said,  and  shed  a 
flood  of  tears,  filling  all  the  place  with  cries.    To  her, 
in  this  transport,  I  with  difiiculty  make  even  a  brief 
reply,   and   in   great  perturbation  open   my  mouth 
in  these  few  broken  words:    I  am  alive  indeed,  and 
spin  out  life  through  all  extremes.     Doubt  not ;  for 
all  you  see  is  real.    Ah  I  what  accidents  of  life  have 
overtaken  you,   since  you  were   thrown  down  from 
[the   possession  of]    your  illustrious  lord?    or  what 
fortune,  some  way  suited  to  your  merit,  hath  visited 
you  once  more  ?    Is  then  Hector's  Andromache  bound  in 
wedlock  to  Pyrrhus  ?    Downward  she  cast  her  eyes,  and 
thus  in  humble  accents  [spoke]  :  O  happy,  singularly 
happy,  the  fate  of  Priam's  virgin-daughter,  who,  com- 
pelled to  die  at  the  enemy's  tomb  under  the  lofty  walls  of 


B.  iii  323-353. 


73 


Troy,  suffered  not  in  having  any  lots  cast  for  her,  nor  as 
a  captive  ever  touched  the  bed  of  a  victor  lord !  We, 
after  the  burning  of  our  country,  being  transported  over 
various  seas,  have  in  thraldom  borne  with  a  mother's 
throes  the  insolence  of  Achilles'  heir,  and  a  haughty, 
imperious  youth  ;  who  afterwards,  attaching  himself  to 
Hermione,  the  granddaughter  of  Ivcda,  and  a  Lacedemo- 
nian match,  delivered  me  over  a  slave  into  the  possession 
of  a  slave,  Helenus.  But  Orestes,  inflamed  by  the  vio- 
lence of  love  to  his  betrothed  snatched  from  him,  and 
hurried  on  by  the  Furies  of  his  crimes,  surprises  him  in 
an  unguarded  hour,  and  assassinates  him  at  his  paternal 
altar.  By  the  death  of  Neoptolemus,  a  part  of  his  king- 
dom fell  to  Helenus  ;  who  denominated  the  plains  Cha- 
onian,  and  the  whole  country  Chaonia,  from  the  Trojan 
Chaon,  and  built  on  the  mountains  [another]  Pergamus 
and  this  Trojan  fort.  But  what  winds,  what  fates,  have 
guided  your  course  ?  or  what  god  hath  landed  you  on  our 
coasts  without  your  knowledge  ?  What  is  become  of  the 
boy  Ascanius  ?    Lives  he  still,  and  breathes  the  vital  air  ? 

whom  to  your  care,  when  Troy  was  Has  the  boy  now 

any  concern  fot  the  loss  of  his  mother?  Is  he  incited, 
by  both  his  father  ^neas  and  his  uncle  Hector,  to  ancient 
valour  and  manly  courage  ? 

Thus  bathed  in  tears  she  spoke,  and  heaved  long  un- 
availing sobs ;  when  the  hero  Helenus,  Priam's  son,  ad- 
vances from  the  city  with  a  numerous  retinue,  knows  his 
friends,  with  joy  conducts  them  to  his  palace,  and  sheds 
tears  in  abundance  between  each  word.  I  set  forward^ 
and  survey  the  little  Troy,  the  castle  of  Pergamus  re- 
sembling the  great  original,  and  a  scanty  rivulet  bearing 
the  name  of  Xanthus  ;  and  I  embrace  the  threshold  of  a 
vScaean  gate.  The  Trojans  too,  at  the  same  time,  enjoy 
the  friendly  city.    The  king  entertained  them  in  his  spa- 


74 


B.  m.  354-380. 


cious  galleries.  In  the  midst  of  the  court  they  ^quaffed 
brimmers  of  wine,  while  the  banquet  was  served  in  gold, 
and  each  stood  with  a  goblet  in  his  hand. 

And  now  one  day,  and  a  second,  passed  on,  when  the 
gales  invite  our  sails,  and  the  canvass  bellies  by  the  swell- 
ing  south  wind.    In  these  words  I  accost  the  prophetj^^- 
[Helenus,]  and  question  him  thus ^  Son  of  Troy,  inter-j 
preter  of  the  gods,  who  knowest  the  divine  will  of  Phoe- 
bus, the  tripods,  the  laurels  of  the  Clarian  god ;  who 
knowest  the  stars,  the  ominous  sounds  of  birds,  and  the 
prognostics  of  the  swift  wing,  come,  declare  (for  [hither- 
to the  omens  of]  religion  have  pronounced  my  whole 
voyage  to  be  prosperous,  and  all  the  gods,  by  their  divine 
will,  have  directed  me  to  go  in  pursuit  of  Italy,  and 
attempt  a  settlement  in  lands  remote  :  the  Harpy  Celseno 
alone  predicts  a  prodigy  strange  and  horrible  to  relate, 
and  denounces  direful  vengeance  and  foul  famine)  what 
are  the  principal  dangers  I  am  to  shun  ?  or  by  the  pur- 
suit of  what  means  may  I  surmount  toils  so  great  ?  Upon 
this  Helenus  first  solicits  the  pe?ce  of  the  gods  by  sacri- 
ficing bullocks  in  due  form,  then  unbinds  the  fillets  of 
his  consecrated  head,  and  himself  leads  me  by  the  hand 
to  thy  temple,  O  Phoebus,  anxious  with  great  awe  of  the 
god  ;  then  the  priest,  from  his  lips  divine,  delivers  these 
predictions :  Goddess-born,  (for  that  you  steer  through 
the  deep  under  some  higher  auspices,  is  unquestionably 
evident;  so  the  sovereign  of  the  gods  dispenses  his 
decree  ;  thus  he  fixes  the  series  of  revolving  events ; 
such  a  scheme  of  things  is  coming  to  its  accomplish- 
ment,) that  you  may  with  greater  safety  cross  the  seas  to 
which  you  are  a  stranger,  and  settle  in  the  Ausonian  port, 
I  will  unfold  to  you  a  few  particulars  of  many  ;  for  the 
Destinies  prevent  you  from  knowing  the  rest,  and  Satur- 
nian  Juno  forbids  Helenus  to  reveal  it.    First  of  all,  a 


B.  HI.  381-411. 


75 


long  intricate  voyage,  with  a  length  of  lands,  divides  [you 
from]  Italy,  which  you  unwittingly  deem  already  near, 
and  whose  ports  you  are  preparing  to  enter,  as  if  just  at 
hand.    You  must  both  ply  the  bending  oar  in  the  Trin- 
acrian  wave,  and  visit  with  your  fleet  the  plains  of  the 
Ausonian  Sea,  the  infernal  lakes,  and  the  isle  of  ^£ean 
Circ-,  before  you  can  build  a  city  in  a  quiet,  peaceful 
land.    I  will  declare  the  signs  to  you  :  do  you  keep  them 
treasured  up  in  your  mind.    When,  thoughtfully  musing 
by  the  streams  of  the  secret  river,  you  shall  find  a  large 
sow  that  has  brought  forth  a  litter  of  thirty  young,  reclin- 
ing on  the  ground,  under  the  holms  that  shade  the  banks, 
white  [the  dam],  the  offspring  white  around  her  dugs  : 
that  shall  be  the  station  of  the  city  ;  there  is  the  period 
fixed  to  thy  labours.    Nor  be  disturbed  at  the  future 
event  of  eating  your  tables :  the  Fates  will  find  out  an 
expedient,  and  Apollo  invoked  will  befriend  you.  But 
shun  those  coasts,  and  those  nearest  limits  of  the  Italian 
shore,  which  are  washed  by  the  tide  of  our  sea  :  all  those 
cities  are  inhabited  by  the  mischievous  Greeks.  Here 
the  Narycian  I^ocrians  have  raised  their  walls,  and  Cretan 
Idomeneus  with  his  troops  has  possessed  the  plains  of 
Salentum :  here  stands  that  little  city  Petilia,  defended 
by  the  walls  of  Philoctetes  the  Meliboean  chief.^X  [Re- 
member] also  (when  your  fleet,  having  crossed  the  seas, 
shall  come  to  a  station,  and  you  shall  pay  your  vows  at 
the  altar  raised  on  the  shore)  to  cover  your  head,  muf- 
fling yourself  in  a  purple  veil,  lest  the  face  of  an  enemy, 
amidst  the  sacred  fires  in  honour  of  the  gods,  appear,  and 
disturb  the  omens.    This  custom,  in  sacrifice,  let  your 
friends,  this  yourself  observe ;  to  this  religious  institu- 
tion let  your  pious  descendants  adhere.    But  when,  after 
setting  out,  the  wind  shall  waft  you  to  the  Sicilian  coast, 
and  the  straits  of  narrow  Pelorus  shall  open  wider  to  the 


76 


B.  m.  412-442. 


eye,  veer  to  the  land  on  the  left,  and  to  the  sea  on  the 
left,  by  a  long  circuit ;  fly  the  right  both  sea  and  shore. 
These  lands,  they  say,  once  with  violence  and  vast  deso- 
lation convulsed,  (such  revolutions  a  long  course  of  time 
is  able  to  produce,)  slipped  asunder  ;  when  in  continuity 
both  lands  were  one,  the  sea  rushed  impetuously  between^ 
and  by  its  waves  tore  the  Italian  side  from  that  of  Sicily  ; 
and  with  a  narrow  frith  runs  between  the  fields  and  cities 
separated  by  the  shores.    Scylla  guards  the  right  side, 
implacable  Charybdis  the  left,  and  thrice  with  the  deep- 
est eddies  of  its  gulf  swallows  up  the  vast  billows,  head- 
long in,  and  again  spouts  them  out  by  turns  high  into  the 
air,  and  lashes  the  ^stars  with  the  waves.    But  Scylla  a 
cave  confines  within  its  dark  recesses,  reaching  forth  her 
jaws,  and  sucking  in  vessels  upon  the  rocks.    First  she 
presents  a  human  form,  a,  lovely  virgin  down  to  the  mid- 
dle ;  her  lower  parts  are  those  of  a  hideous  sea-monster, 
with  the  tails  of  dolphins  joined  to  the  wombs  of  wolves. 
It  is  better  with  delay  to  coast  round  the  extremities  of 
Sicilian  Pachynus,  and  steer  a  long  winding  course,  than 
once  to  behold  the  misshapen  Scylla  under  her  capacious 
den,  and  those  rocks  that  roar  with  her  sea-green  dogs. 
Further,  if  Helenus  has  any  skill,  if  any  credit  is  due  to 
him  as  a  prophet,  if  Apollo  stores  his  mind  with  truth,  I 
will  give  you  this  one  previous  admonition,  this  one,  O 
goddess-born,  above  all  the  rest,  and  I  will  inculcate  it 
upon  you  again  and  again  :  Be  sure  you,  in  the  first  place, 
with  supplications  worship  great  Juno's  divinity  ;  to  Juno 
cheerfully  address  your  vows,  and  overcome  the  powerful 
queen  with  humble  offerings :  thus,  at  length,  leaving 
Trinacria,  you  shah  be  dismissed  victorious  to  the  terri- 
tories of  Italy.    When,  wafted  thither,  you  reach  the  city 
Cumse,  the  hallowed  lakes,  and  Avernus  resounding 
through  the  woods,  you  wiH  see  the  raving  prophetess. 


B.  m.  443-470. 


77 


who,  beneath  a  deep  rock,  reveals  the  fates,  and  commits 
to  the  leaves  of  trees  her  characters  and  words.  What- 
ever verses  the  virgin  has  inscribed  on  the  leaves,  she 
ranges  in  harmonious  order,  and  leaves  in  the  cave  en- 
closed by  themselves :  uncovered  they  remain  in  their 
position,  nor  recede  from  their  order.  But  when,  upon 
turning  the  hinge,  a  small  breath  of  wind  has  blown  upon 
diem,  and  the  door  [by  opening]  has  discomposed  the 
tender  leaves,  she  never  afterwards  cares  to  catch  the 
verses  as  they  are  fluttering  in  the  hollow  cave,  nor  to 
recover  their  situation,  or  join  them  together.  Men  de- 
part without  a  response,  and  detest  the  Sibyl's  grot.  Let 
not  the  loss  of  some  time  there  seem  of  such  consequence 
to  you,  (though  your  friends  chide,  and  your  voyage 
strongly  invite  your  sails  into  the  deep,  and  you  may  have 
an  opportunity  to  fill  the  bellying  canvass  with  a  pros- 
perous gale,)  as  to  hinder  you  from  visiting  the  prophet- 
ess, and  earnestly  entreating  her  to  deliver  the  oracles 
herself,  and  vouchsafe  to  open  her  lips  in  vocal  accents. 
She  will  declare  to  you  the  Italian  nations,  and  your  future 
wars,  and  by  what  means  you  may  shun  or  sustain  each 
hardship  ;  and,  with  reverence  addressed,  will  give  you  a 
successful  voyage.  These  are  all  the  instructions  I  am  at 
liberty  to  give  you.  Go  then,  and  by  your  achievements 
raise  mighty  Troy  to  heaven.  Which  words  when  the 
prophet  had  thus  with  friendly  voice  pronounced,  he  next 
orders  presents  to  be  carried  to  the  ships,  heavy  with 
gold  and  ivory  ;  and  within  the  sides  of  my  vessel  stows 
a  large  quantity  of  silver  plate,  and  caldrons  of  Dodonean 
6rass,  a  mail  thick  set  with  rings,  and  wrought  in  gold  of 
triple  tissue,  together  with  the  cone  and  waving  crest  of 
a  shining  helmet,  arms  which  belonged  to  Neoptolemus : 
my  father  too  had  proper  gifts  conferred  on  him.  He  gives 
us  horses  besides,  and  gives  us  guides.    He  supplies 


78  ^NEID.  B.  m.  471-602. 

with  rowers,  and  at  the  same  time  furnishes  our  crew  with 
arms.  Meanwhile  Anchises  gave  orders  to  equip  our 
fleet  with  sails,  that  we  might  not  be  late  for  the  favour- 
able gale.  Whom  the  interpreter  of  Apollo  accosts  with 
much  respect:  Anchises,  honoured  with  the  illustrious 
bed  of  Venus,  thou  care  of  the  gods,  twice  snatched  from 
the  ruins  of  Troy,  lo  !  there  the  coast  of  Ausonia  lies  be- 
fore you ;  thither  speed  your  way  with  full  sail :  and  yet 
you  must  needs  steer  your  course  beyond.  That  part  of 
Ausonia  which  Apollo  opens  lies  remote.  Go,  says  he, 
happy  in  the  pious  duty  of  your  son :  why  do  I  further 
insist,  and  by  my  discourse  retard  the  rising  gales?  In 
like  manner  Andromache,  grieved  at  our  final  departure, 
brings  forth  for  Ascanius  vestments  wrought  in  figures  of 
gold,  and  a  Phrygian  cloak  ;  nor  falls  short  of  his  dignity  : 
she  loads  him  also  with  presents  of  her  labors  in  the 
loom,  and  thus  addresses  him.  Take  these  too,  my  child, 
which  may  be  memorials  to  you  of  my  handy  work,  and 
testify  the  permanent  affection  of  Andromache,  the  spouse 
of  Hector:  accept  the  last  presents  of  thy  friends.  O 
image,  which  is  all  that  I  have  now  left  of  my  Astyanax  ! 
just  such  eyes,  such  hands,  such  looks  he  showed ;  and  now 
of  equal  age  with  you,  would  have  been  blooming  into 
youth.  I,  with  tears  in  my  eyes,  thus  addressed  them  at 
parting :  lyive  in  felicity,  ye  whose  fortune  is  now  accom- 
plished :  we  are  summoned  from  fate  to  fate.  To  you 
tranquillity  is  secured ;  no  expanse  of  sea  have  you  to 
plough,  or  to  pursue  the  ever-retreating  lands  of  Ausonia. 
You  behold  the  image  of  Xanthus,  and  the  Troy  which 
your  own  hands  have  built :  Heaven  grant  it  be  with  hap- 
pier auspices,  and  be  less  obnoxious  to  the  Greeks.  If 
ever  I  shall  enter  the  Tiber,  and  the  lands  that  border  on 
the  Tiber,  and  view  the  walls  allotted  to  my  race,  we  wiU 
hereafter  make  of  our  kindred  cities  an  allied  people. 


B.  m.  503-533.  ^NBID.  79 

[yours]  in  Kpinis,  [and  mine]  in  Italy,  who  have  both 
the  same  founder,  Dardanus,  and  the  same  fortune ;  [we 
will,  I  say,  make]  of  both  one  Troy,  in  good-will.  Be 
this  the  future  care  of  our  posterity. 

We  pursue  our  voyage  near  the  adjacent  Ceraunian 
mountains  ;  whence  lies  our  way,  and  the  shortest  course 
by  sea  to  Italy.  Meanwhile  the  sun  goes  down,  and  the 
dusky  mountains  are  wrapped  up  in  shade.  On  the  bosom 
of  the  wished-for  earth  we  throw  ourselves  down  by  the 
waves,  having  distributed  the  oars  by  lot,  and  all  along 
the  dry  beach  we  refresh  our  frames  [with  food]  ;  sleep 
diffuses  its  dews  over  our  weary  limbs.  Night,  driven  by 
the  hours,  had  not  yet  reached  her  mid- way  course,  when 
Palinurus  springs  alert  from  his  bed,  examines  every 
wind,  and  lends  his  ears  to  catch  the  breeze.  He  marks 
every  star  gliding  in  the  silent  sky,  Arcturus,  the  rainy 
Hyades,  and  the  two  northern  Bears,  and  throws  his  eyes 
round  Orion  armed  with  gold.  After  having  seen  all 
appearances  of  settled  weather  in  the  serene  sky,  he 
gives  the  loud  signal  from  the  stern  :  we  decamp,  attempt 
our  voyage,  and  expand  the  wings  of  our  sails.  And  now 
the  stars  being  chased  away,  blushing  Aurora  appeared^ 
when  far  off  we  espy  the  hills  obscure,  and  lowly  Italy. 
Italy  !  Achates  first  called  aloud ;  Italy  the  crew  with 
joyous  acclamations  hail.  Then  father  Anchises  decked 
a  capacious  bowl  with  a  garland,  and  filled  it  up  with 
wine  ;  and  invoked  the  gods,  standing  on  the  lofty  stern  : 
Ye  gods  who  rule  sea,  and  land,  and  storms,  grant  us  a 
prosperous  voyage  by  the  wind,  and  breathe  propitious. 
The  wished-for  gales  begin  to  swell ;  and  now  the  port 
opens  nearer  to  our  view,  and  on  a  height  appears  the 
temple  of  Minerva.  Our  crew  furl  the  sails,  and  turn 
about  their  prows  to  the  shore.  Where  the  wave  breaks 
from  the  east,  the  port  bends  into  an  arch ;  the  jutting 
4  * 


go  i^NKlD.  534-561 

cliffs  foam  with  the  briny  spray ;  [the  port]  itself  lies 
hidden  :  two  turret-like  rocks  stretch  out  their  arms  m  a 
double  wall,  and  the  temple  recedes  from  the  shore. 
Here,  on  the  grassy  meadow,  I  saw,  as  our  first  omen, 
four  snow-white  steeds  grazing  the  plain  at  large.  And 
father  Anchises  [calls  out],  War,  O  hospitable  land,  thou 
betokenest ;  for  war  steeds  are  harnessed ;  war  these 
cattle  threaten :  but  yet,  the  same  quadrupeds  havmg 
long  been  used  to  submit  to  the  chariot,  and  in  the  yoke 
to  bear  the  peaceful  reins,  there  is  hope,  also,  of  peace, 
he  says.  Then  we  address  our  prayers  to  the  sacred  ma- 
jesty of  Pallas,  with  clashing  arms  arrayed,  who  first  re- 
ceived us  elated  with  joy  ;  and  before  her  altars  we  veiled 
our  heads  with  a  Phrygian  veil;  and  according  to  the 
instructions  of  Helenus,  on  which  he  laid  the  greatest 
stress,  in  due  form  we  offer  up  to  Argive  Juno  the  honours 
enjoined.  Without  delay,  as  soon  as  we  had  regularly 
fulfilled  our  vows,  we  turn  about  the  extremities  of  our 
sail-yards,  and  quit  the  abodes  and  suspected  territories 
of  the  sons  of  Greece.  Next  is  seen  the  bay  of  Tarentum, 
sacred  to  Hercules,  if  report  be  true  ;  and  the  pacinian 
goddess  rears  herself  opposite  :  the  towers  of  Caulon  [also 
appear]  and  Scylaceum  infamous  for  ship-wrecks.  Then, 
far  from  the  waves,  is  seen  Trinacrian  ^tna ;  and  from 
a  distance  we  hear  the  loud  growling  of  the  ocean, 
the  beaten  rocks,  and  the  murmurs  of  breakers  on  the 
coast :  the  deep  leaps  up,  and  sands  are  mingled  with  the 
tide.  And,  [says]  father  Anchises,  Doubtless  this  is  the 
famed  Charybdis ;  these  shelves,  these  hideous  rocks 
Helenus  foretold.  Rescue  us,  my  friends,  and  with 
equal  ardour  rise  on  your  oars.  They  do  no  otherwise 
than  bidden  ;  and  first  Palinurus  whirled  about  the  creak- 
ing prow  to  the  left  waters.  The  whole  crew,  with  oars 
and  sails,  bore  to  the  left.    We  mount  up  to  heaven  on 


B.  Ill  565-592. 


81 


the  arched  gulf,  and  down  again  we  settle  to  the  shades 
below,  the  wave  having  retired.  Thrice  the  rocks  bel- 
lowed amid  their  hollow  caverns ;  thrice  we  saw  the 
foam  dashed  up,  and  the  stars  drenched  with  its  dewy 
moisture. 

Meanwhile  the  wind  with  the  sun  forsook  us  spent 
■with  toil ;  and  not  knowing  our  course,  we  near  the  coasts 
of  the  Cyclops^li^^he  port  itself  is  ample,  and  undisturbed 
by  the  access  of  the  winds  ;  but,  near  it,  ^tna  thunders 
with  horrible  ruins,  and  sometimes  sends  forth  to  the 
skies  a  black  cloud,  ascending  in  a  pitchy  whirlwind  of 
smoke  and  glowing  embers  ;  throws  up  balls  of  flame, 
and  kisses  the  stars  :  sometimes,  belching,  hurls  forth 
rocks  and  the  shattered  bowels  of  the  mountain,  and  with 
a  rumbling  noise  wreaths  aloft  the  molten  rocks,  and 
boils  up  from  its  lowest  bottom.  It  is  said  that  the  body 
of  Bnceladus,  half  consumed  with  lightning,  is  pressed 
down  by  this  pile,  and  that  cumbrous  ^tna,  laid  above 
him,  spouts  forth  flames  from  its  burst  furnaces  ;  and 
that,  as  often  as  he  shifts  his  weary  side,  all  Trinacria, 
with  a  groan,  inly  trembles,  and  overshades  the  heavens 
with  smoke.  Lying  that  night  under  the  covert  of  the 
woods,  we  suffer  from  those  hideous  prodigies ;  nor  see 
what  cause  produced  the  sound.  For  neither  was  there 
the  light  of  the  stars,  nor  was  the  sky  enlightened  by 
the  starry  firmament ;  but  gloom  was  over  the  dusky 
sky,  and  a  night  of  extreme  darkness  muffled  up  the 
moon  in  clouds. 

And  now  the  next  day  when  the  first  dawn  was  rising, 
and  Aurora  had  dissipated  the  humid  shades  from  the 
sky  ;  when  suddenly  a  strange  figure  of  a  man  unknown 
to  us,  emaciated  to  the  last  degree,  and  in  a  lamentable 
plight,  stalks  from  the  woods,  and,  with  the  air  of  a  sup- 
pliant, stretches  forth  his  hands  to  the  shore.    We  look 


82 


B.  Ill  593-622. 


back :  he  was  in  horrid  filth,  his  beard  overgrown,  his 
garment  tagged  with  thorns  ;  but,  in  all  besides,  he  was 
a  Greek,  and  had  formerly  been  sent  to  Troy  accompany- 
ing the  arms  of  his  country.    As  soon  as  he  descried  our 
Trojan  dress  and  arms,  struck  with  terror  at  the  sight,  he 
paused  a  while,  and  stopped  his  progress  :  a  moment 
after,  rushed  headlong  to  the  shore  with  tears  and  pray- 
ers.   I  conjure  you,  [says  he,]  by  the  stars,  by  the  pow- 
ers above,  by  this  celestial  light  of  life,  ye  Trojans,  snatch 
me  hence ;  convey  me  to  any  climes  w^hatever,  I  rhall 
be  satisfied.    It  is  true,  I  am  one  who  belonged  to  the 
Grecian  fleet,  and,  I  confess,  I  bore  arms  against  the 
Walls  of  Troy :  for  which,  if  the  demerit  of  my  crime 
be  so  heinous,  scatter  my  limbs  on  the  waves,  and  bury 
them  in  the  vast  ocean.    If  I  die,  I  shall  have  the  satis- 
faction of  dying  by  the  hands  of  men.    He  said,  and 
clasping  our  knees,  and  wallowing  [on  the  ground],  clung 
to  our  knees.    We  urge  him  to  tell  who  he  is,  of  what 
family  born  ;  and  next  to  declare  what  fortune  pursues 
him.    My  father  Anchises  frankly  gives  the  youth  his 
right  hand,  and  re-assures  his  mind  by  that  kind  pledge. 
At  length,  fear  removed,  he  thus  begins  :  I  am  a  native 
of  Ithaca;  a  companion  of  the  unfortunate  Ulysses, 
Ach^menides  my  name.    I  went  to  Troy,  my  father 
Adamastus  being  poor,  but  would  that  my  state  of  life 
had  remained  as  it  was :  Here,  in  the  huge  den  of  the 
Cyclop.,  my  unmindful  companions  deserted  me,  while 
in  consternation  they  fled  from  his  cruel  abodes.    It  is 
an  abode  of  gore  and  bloody  banquets,  gloomy  within, 
and  vast:   [the  Cyclop]  himself,  of  towering  height, 
beats  the  stars  on  high,  (ye  gods,  avert  such  a  pest  from 
the  earth  I )  fiercely  scowling  in  his  aspect,  and  inaccess- 
ible to  every  mortal :  he  feeds  on  the  entrails  and  purple 
blood  of  hapless  wretches.    I  myself  beheld,  when, 


,B.  ni.  623-653. 


^NEID. 


83 


having  grasped  in  his  rapacious  hand  two  of  our  num- 
ber, as  he  lay  stretched  on  his  back  in  the  middle  of  the 
cave,  he  dashed  them  against  the  stones,  and  the  be- 
spattered pavement  floated  with  their  blood :  I  beheld, 
when  he  ground  their  members  distilling  black  gore,  and 
their  throbbing  limbs  quivered  under  his  teeth.  Not 
with  impunity,  it  is  true  ;  such  barbarity  Ulysses  suffered 
not  [to  pass  unrevenged] ,  nor  was  the  prince  of  Ithaca 
forgetful  of  himself  in  that  critical  hour.  For  as  soon 
as,  glutted  with  his  banquet,  and  buried  in  wine,  he  re- 
posed his  reclined  neck  to  rest,  and  lay  at  his  enormous 
length  along  the  cave,  disgorging  blood  in  his  sleep,  and 
gobbets  intermixed  with  gory  wine ;  we,  having  im- 
plored the  great  gods,  and  distributed  our  several  parts 
by  lot,  pour  in  upon  him  on  all  hands  at  once,  and  with 
our  pointed  javelins  bore  out  the  huge  single  eye  which 
was  sunk  under  his  lowering  front,  like  a  Grecian  buck- 
ler, or  the  orb  of  Phoebe ;  and  at  length  we  joyfully 
avenge  the  manes  of  our  friends.  But  fly,  ah  wretches ! 
fly,  and  tear  the  cables  from  the  shore.  For  such  and  so 
vast  Polyphemus  [is,  who]  pens  in  his  hollow  cave  the 
fleecy  flocks,  and  drains  their  dugs,  a  htmdred  other  dire- 
ful Cyclops  commonly  haunt  these  winding  shores,  and 
roam  on  the  lofty  mountains.  The  horns  of  the  moon 
are  now  filling  up  with  light  for  the  third  time,  while  in 
these  w^oods,  among  the  desert  dens  and  holds  of  wild 
beasts,  I  linger  out  my  life,  and  descry  from  the  rock  the 
vast  Cyclops,  and  quake  at  the  sound  of  their  feet  and 
voice.  The  berries  and  the  stony  cornels,  which  the 
branches  supply,  form  my  wTetched  sustenance,  and  the 
herbs  feed  me  with  their  plucked  up  roots.  Casting  my 
eyes  around  on  every  object,  this  fleet  I  espied  first  steer- 
ing to  the  shore  ;  to  it  I  was  resolved  to  give  up  myself, 
whatever  it  had  been  ;  it  suffices  me  that  I  have  escaped 


84 


B.  m  654-683 


from  that  horrid  crew.  Do  you  rather  destroy  this  life 
by  any  sort  of  death.  Scarcely  had  he  spoken  this, 
when  on  the  summit  of  the  mountain  we  observe  the 
shepherd  Polyphemus  himself,  stalking  with  his  enor- 
mous bulk  among  his  flocks,  and  seeking  the  shore  his 
usual  haunt;  a  horrible  monster,  mis-shapen,  vast,  of 
sight  deprived.  The  trunk  of  a  pine  guides  his  hand, 
and  makes  firm  his  steps  :  his  fleecy  sheep  accompany 
him;  this  his  sole  delight,  and  the  solace  of  his  dis-, 
tresses :  [from  his  neck  his  whistle  hangs,  ^fter  he 
touched  the  deep  floods,  and  arrived  at  the  sea,  he  there- 
with washes  away  the  trickling  gore  from  his  quenched 
orb,  gnashing  his  teeth  with  a  groan  :  and  now  he  stalks 
through  the  midst  of  the  sea,  while  the  waves  have  not 
yet  wetted  his  gigantic  sides.  We,  in  consternation, 
hasten  our  flight  far  from  that  shore,  having  received  our 
suppliant,  who  thus  merited  our  favour  ;  we  silently  cut 
the  cable,  and  bending  forward,  sweep  the  sea  with 
struggling  oars.  He  perceived,  and  at  the  sound  turned 
his  steps.  But  when  no  opportunity  is  afforded  him  to 
reach  us  with  his  eager  grasp,  and  he  is  unable  in  pur- 
suing us  to  equal  the  Ionian  waves,  he  raises  a  prodigious 
yell,  wherewith  the  sea  and  every  wave  deeply  trem- 
bled, and  Italy,  to  its  inmost  bounds,  was  affrighted,  and 
^tna  bellowed  through  its  winding  caverns.  Meanwhile 
the  race  of  the  Cyclops,  roused  from  the  woods  and  lofty 
mountains,  rush  to  the  port,  and  crowd  the  shore.  We 
perceive  the  ^tnean  brothers,  standing  side  by  side  in 
vain,  with  lowering  eye,  bearing  their  heads  aloft  to 
heaven  ;  a  horrid  assembly :  as  when  aerial  oaks,  or 
cone-bearing  cypresses,  Jove's  lofty  wood,  or  Diana's 
grove,  together  rear  their  towering  tops.  Sharp  fear  im- 
pels our  crew  to  tack  about  to  any  quarter  whatever,  and 
Spread  their  sails  to  any  favourable  wind.    On  the  other 


B.  ni.  684-713. 


85 


hand,  the  commands  of  Helenus  warn  them  not  to  con- 
tinue their  course  between  Scylla  and  Charybdis,  a  path 
which  borders  on  death  on  either  hand :  our  resolution 
[therefore]  is,  to  sail  backward. 

And  lo  !  the  north-wind  sent  from  the  narrow  seat  of 
Pelorus  comes  to  our  aid.  I  am  wafted  beyond  the  mouth 
of  Pantagia,  formed  of  natural  rock,  the  bay  of  Megara, 
and  low-lying  Tapsus.  These  Achsemenides,  the  asso- 
ciate of  accursed  Ulysses,  pointed  out  to  us,  as  backward 
he  cruised  along  the  scenes  of  his  wanderings. 

Before  the  Sicilian  bay  outstretched  lies  an  island 
opposite  to  rough  Plemmyrium  ;  the  ancients  called  its 
name  Ortygia.  It  is  said,  that  Alpheus,  a  river  of  Klis, 
hath  hither  worked  a  secret  channel  under  the  sea ; 
which,  by  thy  mouth,  O  Arethusa,  is  now  blended  with 
the  Sicilian  waves.  We  venerate  the  great  divinities  of 
the  place,  as  commanded ;  and  thence  I  pass  the  too 
luxuriant  soil  of  the  overflowing  Helorus.  Hence  we 
skim  along  the  high  cliffs  and  prominent  rocks  of 
Pachynus ;  and  at  a  distance  appears  Camarina,  by  fate 
forbidden  to  be  ever  removed ;  the  Geloian  plains  and 
huge  Gela,  called  by  the  name  of  the  river.  Next  lofty  > 
Acragas  shows  from  far  its  stately  walls,  once  the  breeder 
of  generous  steeds.  And  thee,  Selinus,  fruitful  in  palms, 
I  leave,  by  means  of  the  given  winds ;  and  I  trace  my 
way  through  the  shallows  of  I^ilybeum,  dangerous  through 
its  hidden  rocks.  Hence  the  port  and  joyless  coast  of 
Drepanum  receive  me.  Here,  alas  !  after  being  tossed 
3y  so  many  storms  at  sea,  I  lose  my  sire  Anchises,  my 
jolace  in  every  care  and  suffering.  Here  thou,  best  of 
fathers,  whom  in  vain,  alas  !  I  saved  from  so  great  dan- 
gers, forsakest  me  spent  with  toils.  Neither  prophetic 
Helenus,  when  he  gave  me  many  fearful  warnings,  nor 
dire  Celsno,  predicted  to  me  this  mournful  stroke.  This 


86 


^NKID.        B.  III.  714-718.    b.  iv.  1-16. 


was  my  finishing  disaster,  this  the  termination  of  my 
long  tedious  voyage.  Parting  hence,  a  god  directed  me 
to  your  coasts. 

Thus  father  ^neas,  while  all  sat  attentive,  alone 
I  recounted  the  destiny  allotted  to  him  by  the  gods,  and 
gave  a  history  of  his  voyage.  He  ceased  at  length,  and, 
having  here  finished  his  relation,  rested. 


BOOK  IV. 

In  the  Fourth  Book,  Queen  Dido  hecomes  deeply  enamoured  of  ^neas,  to 
whom  she  prolfers  her  hand  and  her  crown ;  but,  on  finding  him  deter- 
mined, in  obedience  to  the  command  of  the  gods,  to  leave  Carthage,  rage 
and  despair  took  possession  of  the  unhappy  queen.  At  last,  the  sudden 
departure  of  ^neas  led  to  the  fatal  catastrophe  of  her  death,  by  her  own 
hand,  on  the  funeral  pile  which  she  had  erected. 

But  the  queen,  long  since  pierced  with  painful  care, 
feeds  the  wound  in  her  veins,  and  is  consumed  by  unseen 
flames.  The  many  virtues  of  the  hero,  the  many  honours 
of  his  race,  recur  to  her  thoughts  :  his  looks  and  words 
'dwell  fixed  in  her  soul :  nor  does  care  allow  calm  rest  to 
her  limbs.  Returning  Aurora  now  illuminated  the  earth 
with  the  lamp  of  Phoebus,  and  had  chased  away  the  dewy 
shades  from  the  sky,  when  she,  half-frenzied,  ihus  ad- 
dresses her  sympathizing  sister :  Sister  Anna,  what  dreams 
terrify  and  distract  my  mind !  What  think  you  of  this 
wondrous  guest  who  has  come  to  our  abodes?  In  mien\ 
how  graceful  he  appears  !  in  manly  fortitude  and  warlike , 
deeds  how  great !  I  am  fully  persuaded  (nor  is  my  belief 
groundless)  that  he  is  the  offspring  of  the  god^^^^i^ear^ 
argues  a  degenerate  mind.  Ah  1  by  what  fatal  disasters 
has  he  been  tossed  1  what  toils  of  war  he  sang,  endured  to 
the  last !  Had  I  not  been  fixed  and  steadfast  in  my  resolu- 
tion, never  to  join  myself  to  any  in  the  bonds  of  wedlock, 


B.  IV  17-47. 


87 


since  my  first  love  by  death  mocked  and  disappointed 
me  ;  had  I  not  been  thoroughly  tired  of  the  marriage-bed 
and  nuptial  torch,  to  this  one  frailty  I  might  perhaps  give 
way.  Anna,  (for  I  will  own  it,)  since  the  decease  of  my 
unhappy  spouse  Sichaeus,  and  since  the  household  gods 
jwere  stained  with  his  blood  shed  by  a  brother,  this 
[stranger]  alone  has  warped  my  inclinations,  and  inter- 
ested my  wavering  mind :  I  recognise  the  symptoms  of 
my  former  flame.  But  sooner  may  earth  from  her  lowest 
depths  yawn  for  me,  or  the  almighty  Sire  hurl  me  by  his 
thunder  to  the  shades,  the  pale  shades  of  Erebus  and  deep 
night,  than  I  violate  thee,  modesty,  or  break  thy  laws. 
He  who  first  linked  me  to  himself  hath  borne  away  my 
affection  ;  may  he  possess  it  still,  and  retain  it  in  his  grave. 
This  said,  she  filled  her  bosom  with  trickling  tears.  Anna 
replies :  O  dearer  to  your  sister  than  the  light,  will  you 
thus  in  mournful  solitude  waste  your  bloom  of  youth  nor 
know  the  dear  delights  of  children,  and  rewards  of  love? 
Think  you  that  ashes  and  the  buried  dead  care  for  that? 
What  though  no  lovers  moved  you  before,  when  your 
sorrows  were  green,  either  in  I^ibya,  or  before  in  Tyre? 
what  though  larbas  was  slighted,  and  other  princes  whom 
Afric,  fertile  in  triumphs,  maintains?  Will  you  also  resist 
a  flame  which  you  approve?  Will  you  not  reflect  in 
whose  country  you  now  reside  ?  Here  the  Getulian  cities, 
a  race  invincible  in  war,  unrestrained  Numidians,  and  in- 
hospitable quicksands,  enclose  you  round  ;  there,  a  region 
by  thirst  turned  into  a  desert,  and  the  wide-raging  Bar 
cseans.  Why  should  I  mention  the  kindling  wars  from 
Tyre,  and  the  menaces  of  your  brother?  It  was  surely,  I 
think,  under  the  auspices  of  the  gods,  and  by  the  favour 
of  Juno,  that  the  Trojan  ships  steered  their  course  to  this 
our  coasts  O  sister,  how  flourishing  shall  you  see  this 
city,  how  potent  your  kingdom  rise  from  such  a  match  I 


88 


B.  IV  48-76. 


By  what  high  exploits  shall  the  Carthaginian  glory  be 
advanced,  when  the  Trojan's  arms  join  them!  Do  thou 
but  supplicate  the  favour  of  the  gods,  and,  having  per- 
formed propitiating  rites,  indulge  in  hospitality,  and  de- 
vise one  pretence  after  another  for  detaining  [your  guest] , 
while  winter's  fury  rages  on  the  sea,  and  Orion  .charged 
with  rain  ;  while  his  ships  are  shattered,  and  the  sky  is 
inclement. 

By  this  speech  she  fanned  the  fire  of  love  kindled  in 
Dido's  breast,  buoyed  up  her  wavering  mind  with  hope, 
and  banished  her  scruples.  First  to  the  temples  they 
repair,  and  by  sacrifice  the  peace  of  heaven  implore ;  to 
Ceres  the  lawgiver,  to  Phoebus,  and  to  father  Bacchus 
they  offer  ewes  of  the  age  of  two  years,  according  to 
custom ;  above  all  to  Juno,  whose  province  is  the  nup- 
tial tie.  Dido  herself,  in  all  her  beauty,  holding  in 
her  right  hand  the  cup,  pours  it  between  the  horns 
of  a  white  heifer;  or  before  the  images  of  the  gods 
in  solemn  pomp  around  the  rich-loaded  altars  walks, 
renews  one  ofi"ering  after  another  all  the  day  long,  and, 
gaping  over  the  disclosed  breasts  of  the  victims,  consult 
their  panting  entrails.  Alas  !  how  ignorant  the  minds  of 
seers  !  what  can  prayers,  what  can  temples,  avail  a  raging 
lover?  The  gentle  flame  preys  all  the  while  upon  her 
vitals,  and  the  secret  wound  rankles  in  her  breast.  Un- 
happy Dido  burns,  and  frantic  roves  over  all  the  town  : 
like  a  wounded  deer,  whom,  off  her  guard,  a  shepherd 
pursuing  with  his  darts  has  pierced  at  a  distance  among 
the  Cretan  woods,  and  unknowingly  [in  the  wound]  hath 
left  the  winged  steel :  she  flying  bounds  over  the  Dict^an 
woods  and  glades :  the  fatal  shaft  sticks  in  her  side.  Now  she 
conducts  ^neas  through  the  midst  of  her  fortifications; 
shows  him  both  the  treasures  brought  from  Tyre,  and  her 
new  city :  she  begins  to  speak,  and  stops  short  in  the  middle 


B.  IV.  77-105. 


89 


of  a  word.  When  day  declines,  she  longs  to  have  the 
same  banquets  renewed ;  and,  fond  even  to  madness,  begs 
again  to  hear  the  Trojan  disasters,  and  again  hangs  on  the 
speaker's  lips.  Now,  when  they  had  severally  retired, 
^while  the  fading  moon  in  her  alternate  course  withdraws 
her  light,  and  the  setting  stars  invite  sleep,  she  mourns 
alone  in  the  desert  hall,  presses  the  couch  which  he  had 
left,  and  in  fancy  hears  and  sees  the  absent  hero ;  or, 
captivated  with  the  father's  image,  hugs  Ascanius  in  her 
bosom,  if  possibly  she  may  divert  her  unutterable  love. 
The  towers  which  were  begun  cease  to  rise ;  her  youth 
practise  not  their  warlike  exercises,  nor  prepare  ports 
and  bulwarks  for  war ;  the  works  and  the  huge  battlements 
on  the  walls,  and  the  engines  that  mate  the  skies,  are 
discontinued. 

Whom  when  Jove's  beloved  wife  perceived  to  be  thus 
possessed  with  the  blighting  passion,  and  that  even  sense 
of  honour  could  not  resist  its  rage,  Saturnia  thus  artfully 
addresses  Venus:  Distinguished  praise,  no  doubt,  and 
ample  spoils,  you  and  your  boy  carry  off,  high  and  signal 
renown,  if  one  woman  is  overcome  by  the  wiles  of  two 
deities.  Nor  am  I  quite  ignorant,  that  you  apprehend 
danger  from  our  walls,  and  view  the  structures  of  lofty 
Carthage  with  a  j ealous  eye.  But  where  will  all  this  end  ? 
or  what  do  we  now  propose  by  such  hot  contention? 
Why  do  not  we  rather  promote  an  eternal  peace,  and 
nuptial  contract?  You  have  your  whole  soul's  desire; 
Dido  burns  with  love,  and  has  sucked  the  fury  into  her 
very  bones.  I^et  us  therefore  rule  this  people  in  com- 
mon, and  under  equal  sway  :  let  Dido  be  at  liberty  to  bind 
herself  in  wedlock  to  a  Trojan  lord,  and  into  thy  hand  de= 
liver  over  the  Tyrians  by  way  of  dowry. 

To  whom  Venus  (for  she  preceived  that  she  spoke  with 
an  insincere  mind,  with  a  design  to  transfer  the  seat  of 


90 


B.  IV.  106-133. 


empire  from  Italy  to  the  Libyan  coasts)  thus  in  her  turn 
began :  Who  can  be  so  mad  as  to  reject  these  terms,  and 
rather  choose  to  engage  in  war  with  you,  would  fortune 
but  concur  with  the  scheme  which  you  mention  ?  But  I 
am  driven  to  an  uncertainty  by  the  Fates,  [not  knowing] 
whether  it  be  the  will  of  Jupiter  that  the  Tyrians  and 
Trojans  should  dwell  in  one  city,  or  if  he  will  approve  the 
union  of  the  two  nations,  and  the  joining  of  alliance. 
You  are  his  consort:  to  you  it  belongs  by  entreaty  to 
work  upon  his  mind.  Lead  you  the  way ;  I  will  follow. 
Then  imperial  Juno  thus  replied :  That  task  be  mine : 
meanwhile  (mark  my  words)  I  will  briefly  show  by  what 
means  our  present  design  may  be  accomplished,  ^neas 
and  most  unhappy  Dido  are  preparing  to  hunt  together 
in  the  forest,  soon  as  to-morrow's  sun  shall  have  brought 
forth  the  early  dawn,  and  enlightened  the  world  with  his 
beams.  While  the  [bright-hued]  plumage  flutters,  and 
they  enclose  the  thickets  with  toils,  I  will  pour  on  them 
from  above  a  blackening  storm  of  rain  with  mingled  hail, 
and  with  peals  of  thunder  make  heaven's  whole  frame 
to  shake.  Their  retinue  shall  fly  different  ways,  and  be 
covered  with  a  dark  night  [of  clouds] .  Dido  and  the 
Trojan  prince  shall  repair  to  the  same  cave :  there  will  I 
be  present,  and,  if  I  have  your  firm  consent,  I  will  join 
them  in  the  lasting  bonds  of  wedlock,  and  consecrate  her 
to  be  his  for  ever.  The  god  of  marriage  shall  be  there. 
Venus,  without  any  opposition,  agreed  to  her  proposal, 
md  smiled  at  the  fraud  she  discovered. 

Meanwhile  Aurora  rising  left  the  ocean.  Soon  as  the 
beams  of  day  shot  forth,  the  chosen  youth  issue  through 
the  gates :  the  fine  nets,  the  toils,  tJie  broad-pointed 
hunting  spears,  the  Massylian  horsemen,  and  a  pack  of 
quick -scented  hounds,  pour  forth  together.  Before  the  pal- 
ace gate  the  Carthagian  nobles  await  the  queen  lingering 


B.  IV.  134-164. 


91 


in  her  alcove  ;  her  steed,  richly  caparisoned  with  purple 
and  gold,  ready  stands,  and  fiercely  champs  the  foaming 
bit.  At  length  she  comes  attended  by  a  numerou 
retinue,  attired  in  a  Sidonian  chlamys  with  embroidered 
border :  she  has  a  quiver  of  gold ;  her  tresses  are  tied  in 
a  golden  knot ;  a  golden  buckle  binds  up  her  purple  robe. 
The  Trojan  youth,  too,  and  sprightly  liilus,  accompany 
the  procession,  ^neas  himself,  distinguished  in  beauty 
above  all  the  rest,  mingles  with  the  retinue,  and  adds  his 
train  to  hers  :  as  when  Apollo,  leaving  Lycia,  his  winter 
seat,  and  the  streams  of  Xanthus,  revisits  his  mother's 
island  Delos,  and  renews  the  dances  ;  the  Cretans,  Dry- 
opes,  and  painted  Agathyrsi,  mingle  their  acclamations 
around  his  altars  :  he  himself  moves  maj  estic  on  Cynthus' 
top,  and  adjusting  his  waving  hair,  crowns  it  with  a  soft 
wreath,  and  enfolds  it  in  gold  ;  his  arrows  rattle  on  his 
shoulders.  With  no  less  active  grace  ^neas  moved: 
such  comeliness  shines  forth  in  his  matchless  mien. 
Soon  as  they  reached  the  high  mountains,  and  pathless 
lairs,  lo  !  from  the  summit  of  the  craggy  cliff  the  wild 
goats  dislodged  skip  down  the  rocks  :  on  the  other  side 
the  stags  scour  along  the  open  plains,  and  gather  together 
in  flight  their  dust-covered  squadrons,  and  forsake  the 
mountains.  Now  the  boy  Ascanius  delights  in  his 
sprightly  courser  through  the  enclosed  vales ;  and  now 
these,  now  those  he  outrides,  and  devoutly  wishes  that  a 
foaming  boar  would  cross  his  way  amidst  the  feeble 
flocks,  or  a  tawny  lion  descend  from  the  mountain. 

Meanwhile  the  air  begins  to  be  disturbed  with  loud 
murmurings ;  a  deluge  of  rain  with  mingled  hail  suc- 
ceeds. And  here  and  there  the  Tyrian  train,  the  Trojan 
youth,  and  Venus'  grandchild  of  Dardanian  line,  for  fear 
sought  different  shelters  through  the  fields.  Whole 
rivers  from  the  mountains  come  pouring  down.  Dido 


92 


B  IV.  165-193. 


and  the  Trojan  prince  repair  to  the  same  cave.  [Thenj 
lirst  the  Earth,  and  Juno  who  presides  over  marriage, 
gave  the  signal :  lightnings  flashed,  the  sky  was  a  wit- 
ness to  the  alliance,  and  the  nymphs  were  heard  to 
shriek  on  the  mountain  tops.  That  day  first  proved  the 
source  of  death,  the  source  of  woes :  for  [now]  Dido  is 
neither  influenced  by  appearance  nor  character,  nor  is 
she  now  studious  to  carry  on  clandestine  love  :  she  calls 
it  marriage  :  she  veils  her  guilt  under  that  name. 

Forthwith  Fame  through  the  populous  city  of  Libya 
runs  :  Fame,  than  whom  no  pest  is  more  swift,  by  exert- 
ing her  agility  grows  more  active,  and  acquires  strength 
on  her  way  :  small  at  first  through  fear  ;  soon  she  shoots 
up  into  the  skies,  and  stalks  along  the  ground,  while  she 
hides  her  head  among  the  clouds.  Parent  Karth,  en- 
raged by  the  vengeance  of  the  gods,  produced  her  the 
youngest  sister,  it  is  said  of  Coeus,  and  Knceladus,  swift 
to  move  with  feet  and  persevering  wings :  a  monster 
hideous,  immense;  who  (wondrous  to  relate!)  for  as 
many  plumes  as  are  in  her  body,  numbers  so  many 
wakeful  eyes  beneath,  so  many  tongues,  so  many  bab- 
bling mouths,  pricks  up  so  many  listening  ears.  By 
night,  through  the  mid  region  of  the  sky,  and  through 
the  shades  of  earth,  she  flies  buzzing,  nor  inclines  her 
eyes  to  balmy  rest.  Watchful  by  day,  she  perches  either 
on  some  high  house-top,  or  on  lofty  turrets,  and  fills 
mighty  cities  with  dismay ;  as  obstinately  bent  on  false- 
hood and  iniquity  as  on  reporting  truth.  She  then, 
ielighted,  with  various  rumours  filled  the  people's  ear, 
and  uttered  facts  and  fictions  indifferently ;  [namely,] 
that  ^neas,  sprung  from  Trojan  blood,  had  arrived, 
whom  Dido,  with  all  her  charms,  vouchsafed  to  wed ; 
that  now  in  revelling  with  each  other  they  enjoyed  the 


>.  IV.  194  220. 


93 


winter,  throughout  its  length,  unmindful  of  their  king- 
doms, and  enslaved  by  a  base  passion. 

With  such  news  the  foul  goddess  fills  the  mouths  of  the 
people.  To  king  larbus  straight  she  turns  her  course  ; 
inflames  his  soul  by  her  rumours,  and  aggravates  his 
rage.  This  larbus,  the  son  of  Ammon  by  the  ravished 
nymph  Garamantis,  raised  to  Jove  a  hundred  lofty  tem- 
ples within  his  extensive  realms,  a  hundred  altars  *,  and 
there  had  he  consecrated  the  wakeful  fire,  with  a  sacred 
watch  to  keep  eternal  guard,  a  piece  of  ground,  fattened 
with  victims'  blood,  and  the  gates  adorned  with  wreaths 
of  various  flowers.  He,  maddened  in  soul,  and  inflamed 
by  the  bitter  tidings,  is  said,  before  the  altars,  amid  the 
very  presence  of  the  gods,  to  have  [thus]  importunately 
addressed  Jupiter  in  suppliant  form  with  uplifted  hands : 
Almighty  Jove,  to  whom  the  Maurusian  race,  that  feast 
on  painted  couches,  now  honour  thee  with  a  libation  of 
wine,  seest  thou  these  things  ?  or  do  we  vainly  dread 
thee,  when  thou,  O  father !  dartest  thy  thunder-bolts  ? 
and  are  those  lightnings  in  the  clouds  that  terrify  our 
minds  blind  and  fortuitous,  and  do  they  mingle  mere  idle 
sounds A  wondering  woman,  who  hath  built  in  out- 
^)^minions  a  small  city  [on  a  spot]  she  purchased ;  to 
I  '^hom  we  assigned  a  tract  of  shore  for  tillage,  and  upon 
whom  we  imposed  the  laws  of  the  country,  hath  rejected 
our  proffered  match,  and  hath  taken  ^neas  into  her 
kingdom  for  her  lord  :  and  now  this  other  Paris,  with  his 
unmanly  train,  bound  under  the  chin  with  a  Lydian  cap^ 
and  with  his  locks  bedewed  [with  odours],  enjoys  the 
ravished  prize  :  [this  we  have  deserved  forsooth,]  because 
we  bring  offerings  to  thy  temples,  and  cherish  an  idle 
glory. 

While  in  such  terms  he  addressed  his  prayer,  and 
grasped  the  altar,  the  almighty  heard-  and  turned  his 


94 


B.  IV.  221-251 


eyes  towards  the  royal  towers  [of  Carthage],  and  the 
lovers  regardless  of  their  better  fame.  Then  thus  he 
bespeaks  Mercury,  and  gives  him  these  instructions: 
Fly  quick,  my  son,  call  the  zephyrs,  and  on  thy  pinions 
glide:  and  to  the  Trojan  prince,  who  now  loiters  in 
Tyrian  Carthage,  nor  regards  the  cities  allotted  him  by 
the  Fates,  address  yourself ;  and  bear  [this]  my  message 
swiftly  through  the  skies.  Not  such  a  one  did  his  fairest 
mother  promise  us,  nor  was  it  for  this  she  saved  him 
twice  from  the  Grecian  sword :  but  that  he  should  be  one 
who  should  rule  Italy,  big  with  [future]  empire,  and 
fierce  in  war, who  should  evince  his  descent  from  Teucer's 
noble  blood,  and  bring  the  whole  world  under  his  sway. 
If  he  is  not  fired  by  the  glory  of  such  deeds,  nor  will  him- 
self attempt  any  laborious  enterprise  for  his  own  renown, 
will  he,  the  father,  envy  Ascanius  Rome's  imperial 
towers?  What  does  he  propose?  or  with  what  prospect 
lingers  he  so  long  among  an  unfriendly  race,  nor  regards 
his  Ausonian  offspring,  and  I^avinian  fields  ?  Bid  him  set 
sail.    No  more  :  be  this  our  message. 

He  said  *  Mercury  prepared  to  obey  his  mighty  father's 
will :  and  first  to  his  feet  he  binds  his  golden  sandals, 
which  by  their  wings  waft  him  aloft,  whether  over  sea  or 
land,  swift  as  the  rapid  gales.  Next  he  takes  his  wand  ; 
with  this  he  calls  from  hell  the  pale  ghosts,  despatches 
others  down  to  sad  Tartarus,  gives  sleep,  or  takes  it  away, 
and  unseals  the  eyes  from  death.  Aided  by  this,  he 
drives  along  the  winds,  and  breasts  the  troubled  clouds. 
And  now  in  his  flight  he  espies  the  top  and  lofty  sides  of 
hardy  Atlas,  who  with  his  summit  supports  the  sky  ; 
Atlas,  whose  head,  crowned  with  pines,  is  always  encir- 
cled with  black  clouds,  and  lashed  by  wind  and  rain  : 
large  sheets  of  snow  enwrap  his  shoulders  ;  from  his  aged 
chin  torrents  headlong  roll,  and  his  grisly  beard  is  stiff 


B.  IV.  252-281. 


95 


with  icicles.  Here  first  Cyllenius,  poising  himself  on 
even  wings,  alighted  ;  hence  with  the  weight  of  his 
whole  body  he  flings  himself  headlong  to  the  floods; 
like  the  fowl,  which  [hovering]  about  the  shores,  about 
the  fishy  rocks,  flies  low  near  the  surface  of  the  seas : 
g'ust  so  Maia's  son,  shooting  down  from  his  maternal 
^grandsire  between  heaven  and  earth,  [skimmed  along] 
the  sandy  shore  of  Libya,  and  cut  the  winds.  As  soon  as 
he  touched  the  cottages  [of  Afric]  with  his  winged  feet, 
he  views  ^neas  founding  towers,  and  raising  new  struc- 
tures ;  and  at  his  side  he  wore  a  sword  studded  with  yel- 
low jasper,  and  a  cloak,  hanging  down  from  his  shoulders, 
glowed  with  Tyrian  purple  ;  presents  which  wealthy  Dido 
had  given,  and  had  interwoven  the  stuff  with  threads  of 
gold.  Forthwith  he  accosts  him  :  Is  it  for  you  now  to 
be  laying  the  foundations  of  stately  Carthage,  and,  the 
fond  slave  of  a  wife,  be  raising  a  city  [for  her],  regardless, 
alas  !  of  your  kingdom  and  nearest  concerns  ?  The  sover- 
eign of  the  gods,  who  governs  heaven  and  earth  by  his 
nod,  himself  sends  me  down  to  you  from  bright  Olympus. 
The  same  commanded  me  to  bear  these  his  instructions 
swiftly  through  the  air.  What  dost  thou  purpose,  or 
with  what  prospect  dost  thou  waste  thy  peaceful  hours 
in  the  territories  of  libya  ?  If  no  glory  from  such  deeds 
moves  thee,  and  thou  wilt  attempt  no  laborious  enter- 
prise for  thy  own  renown;  have  some  regard  [at  least] 
to  the  rising  Ascanius,  and  the  hopes  of  thine  heir  liilus, 
for  whom  the  kingdom  of  Italy  and  the  Roman  territo- 
ries are  destined.  When  Cyllenius  had  spoken  thus,  he 
left  mortal  vision  in  the  very  midst  of  the  conference, 
and  far  beyond  sight  vanished  into  thin  air. 

Meanwhile  ^neas,  entranced  by  the  vision,  was  struck 
-f  %mb  ;  his  hair  with  horror  stood  erect,  and  his  tongue 
cleaved  to  his  jaws.    He  burns  to  be  gone  in  flight,  and 
5 


96 


IV.  282-306. 


leave  the  darling  land,  awed  by  the  message  and  dread 
command  of  the  gods.  Ah !  what  can  he  do  ?  in  what 
terms  can  he  now  presume  to  solicit  the  consent  of  the 
raving  queen  ?  With  what  words  shall  he  introduce  the 
subject?  And  now  this  way,  now  that,  he  swiftly  turns 
his  wavering  mind,  snatches  various  purposes  by  starts, 
and  roams  uncertain  through  all.  Thus  fluctuating,  he* 
fixed  on  this  resolution  as  the  best :  he  calls  to  him 
Mnestheus,  Sergestus,  and  the  brave  Cloanthus  ;  [and 
bids  them]  with  silent  care  equip  the  fleet,  summon 
their  social  bands  to  the  shore,  prepare  their  arms,  and 
artfully  conceal  the  cause  of  this  sudden  change  :  [add- 
ing,] that  he  himself,  in  the  mean  time,  while  generous 
Dido  was  in  ignorance,  and  had  no  apprehension  that 
their  so  great  loves  could  be  dissolved,  would  try  the  ave- 
nues [to  her  heart],  what  may  be  the  softest  moments  of 
address,  what  means  might  be  most  favourable  to  their 
design.  With  joyful  speed  they  all  obey  the  commands, 
and  put  his  orders  in  execution. 

But  the  queen  (who  can  deceive  a  lover  ?)  was  before- 
hand in  perceiving  the  fraud,  and  the  first  who  conjec- 
tured their  future  motions,  dreading  even  where  all 
seemed  to  be  safe  :  the  same  malignant  fame  conveyed 
the  news  to  her  frantic,  that  the  fleet  was  being  equipped, 
and  preparing  to  set  sail.  She  rages  even  to  madness, 
and  inflamed,  she  wildly  roams  through  all  the  city  :  like 
a  Bacchanal  wrought  up  into  enthusiastic  fury  in  cele- 
brating the  sacred  [mysteries  of  her  god] ,  when  the  tri- 
ennial orgies  stimulate  her,  at  hearing  the  name  of  Bac- 
chus, and  the  nocturnal  bowlings  on  Mount  Citheron 
invite  her.  At  length,  in  these  words  she  first  accosts 
^neas  :  And  didst  thou  hope,  too,  perfidious  one,  to  be 
able  to  conceal  from  me  so  wicked  a  purpose,  and  to 
steal  away  in  silence  from  my  coasts?    Can  neither  our 


B.  IV.  307-337. 


97 


iove,  nor  thy  once  plighted  faith,  nor  Dido  resolved  to 
die  by  a  cruel  death,  detain  thee  ?  Nay,  you  prepare 
your  fleet  even  in  the  wintry  season,  and  haste  to  launch 
into  the  deep  amidst  northern  blasts  !  Cruel  one  !  suppose 
you  were  not  bound  for  a  foreign  land  and  settlements 
unknown,  and  old  Troy  was  still  remaining  ;  should  you 
set  sail  for  Troy  on  this  tempestuous  sea?  Wilt  thou 
fly  from  me  ?  By  these  tears,  by  that  right  hand,  (since 
I  have  left  nothing  else  to  myself  now,  a  wretch  forlorn,) 
by  our  nuptial  rites,  by  our  conjugal  loves  begun  ;  if  I 
have  deserved  any  thanks  at  thy  hand,  or  if  ever  you 
saw  any  charms  in  me,  take  pity,  I  implore  thee,  on  a 
falling  race,  and,  if  yet  there  is  any  room  for  prayers,  lay 
aside  your  resolution.  For  thy  sake  have  I  incurred  the 
hatred  of  the  I^ibyan  nations,  of  the  Numidian  princes, 
and  made  the  Tyrians  my  enemies  ;  for  thy  sake  have  I 
sacrificed  my  shame,  and,  what  alone  raised  me  to  the 
stars,  my  former  fame:  to  whom  dost  thou  abandon 
Dido,  soon  about  to  die,  my  guest  !  since,  instead  of  a 
husband's  name,  only  this  remains ?  What  wait  I  for?  is 
it  till  my  brother  Pygmalion  lay  this  city  of  mine  in 
ashes,  or  larbas,  the  Getulian,  carry  me  away  his  captive? 
Had  I  but  enjoyed  offspring  by  thee  before  thy  flight ; 
did  a  young  ^neas  play  in  my  hall,  were  it  but  to  give 
me  thy  image  in  his  features,  I  should  not  indeed  have 
thought  myself  quite  a  captive  and  forlorn. 

She  said.  He,  by  the  commands  of  Jove,  held  his  eyes 
unmoved,  and  with  hard  struggles  suppressed  the  anxious 
care  in  his  heart.  At  length  he  briefly  replies,  That  you, 
O  queen,  have  laid  on  me  numerous  obligations,  which 
you  may  recount  at  large,  I  never  shall  disown  ;  and  I 
shall  always  remember  Klisa  with  pleasure,  while  I  have 
any  remembrance  of  myself,  while  I  have  a  soul  to  actuate 
these  limbs.    But  to  the  point  in  debate  I  shall  briefly 


98 


B  IV.  337-365; 


Speak  :  believe  me,  I  neither  thought  by  stealth  to  have 
concealed  this  my  flight,  nor  did  I  ever  pretend  a  lawful 
union,  or  enter  into  such  a  contract.  Had  the  Fates  left 
me  free  to  conduct  my  life  by  my  own  direction,  and  ease 
my  cares  according  to  my  own  choice  ;  my  first  regards 
had  been  shown  to  Troy  and  the  dear  relics  of  my  coun- 
try ;  Priam's  lofty  palace  should  [now]  remain,  and  with 
this  hand  I  would  have  repaired  for  the  conquered  the 
walls  of  Pergamus,  raised  again  from  ruin.  But  now  to 
great  Italy  Grynsean  Apollo,  to  Italy  the  Lycian  oracles 
have  commanded  me  to  repair.  This  is  the  object  of  my 
love,  this  my  country.  If  the  towers  of  Carthage  and  the 
sight  of  a  Libyan  city  engross  you,  a  Phoenician  born, 
why  should  you  be  dissatisfied  that  we  Trojans  settle  in 
the  land  of  Ausonia  ?  Let  us,  too,  have  the  privilege  to 
go  in  quest  of  foreign  realms.  Whenever  the  night  over- 
spreads the  earth  with  humid  shades,  as  often  as  the  fiery 
stars  arise,  the  troubled  ghost  of  my  father  Anchises  visits 
me  in  my  dreams,  and  with  dreadful  summons  urges  [my 
departure]  :  my  son  Ascanius  [calls]  me  [hence],  and  the 
injury  done  to  one  so  dear,  whom  I  defraud  of  the  Hes- 
perian crown,  and  his  destined  dominions.  Now  also  the 
messenger  of  the  gods,  despatched  from  Jove  himself,  (I 
call  them  both  to  witness  !)  swift  gliding  through  the  air, 
bore  to  me  his  high  commands  :  myself  beheld  the  god 
in  conspicuous  brightness  entering  your  walls,  and  with 
these  ears  I  received  his  voice.  Cease  to  torment  your- 
self and  me  by  your  complaints :  the  Italian  coasts  I  pur- 
sue, not  out  of  choice. 

Thus  while  he  speaks,  she  views  him  all  along  from  the 
beginning  with  averted  looks,  rolling  her  eyes  hither  and 
thither,  and  with  silent  glances  surveys  his  whole  person, 
then  thus  inflamed  with  wrath  breaks  forth  :  Nor  goddess 
gave  thee  birth,  perfidious  one  !  nor  is  Dardanus  the 


B.  IV.  336-390. 


99 


founder  of  thy  race,  but  frightful  Caucasus  on  flinty  cliffs 
brought  thee  forth,  and  Hyrcanian  tigers  gave  thee  suck. 
For  why  should  I  dissemble  ?  or  for  what  greater  injuries 
can  I  be  reserved?  Did  he  so  much  as  sigh  at  my  dis- 
tress ?  did  he  once  move  his  eyes  ?  Did  he,  overcome, 
shed  a  tear,  or  compassionate  me  in  my  love  ?  Where 
shall  I  begin  my  complaint?  Now  neither  mighty  June 
nor  the  Saturnian  sire,  considers  these  things  with  impar- 
tial eyes.  Firm  faith  no  where  subsists.  An  outcast  on 
my  shores,  an  indigent  wretch,  I  received  him,  and  fool 
that  I  was,  settled  him  in  partnership  of  my  crown  ;  his 
wrecked  fleet  [I  renewed],  his  companions  from  death  I 
saved.  Ah  !  I  am  all  on  fire,  I  am  distracted  with  fury  ! 
*'Now  the  prophetic  voifce  of  Apollo;  now  the  Lycian 
lots ;  and  now  the  messenger  of  the  gods,  despatched 
from  Jove  himself,  through  the  air  conveys  the  horrid 
n;andate."  A  worthy  employment,  forsooth,  for  the 
poVers  above,  a  weighty  concern  to  disturb  them  in 
their  peaceful  state !  I  neither  detain  you,  nor  argue 
against  what  you  have  said.  Go,  speed  your  way  for 
Italy  with  the  winds,  pursue  this  kingdom  of  yours,  over 
the  waves.  I  hope,  however,  (if  the  just  gods  have  any 
power,)  thou  may  est  suffer  punishment  amid  the  rocks, 
and  often  [vainly]  call  on  Dido's  name.  I,  though  absent, 
will  pursue  thee  with  black  flames  :  and,  when  cold  death 
shall  have  separated  these  limbs  from  my  soul,  as  a  shade 
will  I  haunt  thee  in  every  place  :  Wretch !  thou  shalt 
make  atonement ;  I  shall  hear  it ;  even  in  the  deep  shades 
these  tidings  will  reach  me.  With  these  words  she  breaks 
off  in  the  middle  of  the  conference,  and  sickening  shuns 
the  light :  she  turns  about,  and  flings  away  out  of  his 
sight,  leaving  him  greatly  perplexed  through  fear,  and 
preparing  to  say  a  thousand  things.    Her  maids  raise  her 


100 


B.  IV.  391-418. 


Up,  bear  her  fainting  limbs  into  her  marble  bed-chamber, 
and  gently  lay  her  on  a  couch. 

Meanwhile  pious  ^neas,  though  by  solacing  means  he 
desires  to  ease  her  grief,  and  by  words  to  divert  her  an- 
guish, heaving  many  a  sigh,  and  staggered  in  his  mind 
V  by  mighty  love,  yet  gives  obedience  to  the  commands  of ' 
the  gods,  and  revisits  his  fleet.  Then,  indeed,  the  Trojanst 
intensely  ply  their  work,  and  launch  the  ships  all  along 
the  shore.  The  pitchy  keel  floats  ;  through  eager  haste 
to  sail,  they  bring  from  the  woods  oars  not  cleared  of 
leaves,  and  unfashioned  timber.  You  might  have  seen 
them  removing,  and  pouring  from  all  quarters  of  the 
town,  as  when  ants,  mindful  of  winter,  plunder  a  large 
granary  of  corn,  and  hoard  it  up  in  their  cell ;  the  black 
battalion  marches  over  the  plains,  and  along  the  narrow 
track  they  convey  their  booty  through  the  meadows; 
some,  shoving  with  their  shoulders,  push  forward  the 
cumbrous  grain ;  some  rally  the  [straggling]  bands,  and 
chastise  those  that  lag :  the  path  all  glows  with  the  work. 

Dido,  how  wast  thou  then  afl"ected  with  so  sad  a  pros- 
pect? What  groans  didst  thou  utter,  when  from  thy 
lofty  tower  thou  beheld  est  the  shore  in  its  wide  extent 
glowing  [with  bustle],  and  didst  also  observe,  full  in  thy 
view,  the  whole  watery  plain  resounding  with  such  min- 
gled shouts?  Unrelenting  love,  how  irresistible  is  thy 
sway  over  the  mind  of  mortals  !  She  is  constrained  once 
more  to  have  recourse  to  tears,  once  more  to  assail  him 
by  prayers,  and  suppliant  to  subject  the  powers  of  her 
soul  to  love,  lest,  by  leaving  any  means  unattempted, 
she  should  throw  away  her  life  rashly,  and  without  cause. 
^'Anna,  thou  seest  over  all  the  shore  how  they  are  hasten- 
^  ing :  the  whole  bands  are  drawn  together,  the  canvass 
now  invites  the  gales;  and  the  joyful  mariners  have 
crowned  their  sterns  with  garlands.    O  sister,  since  I  was 


B.  IV.  419-447. 


101 


able  to  foresee  this  so  sad  a  blow,  I  shall  be  able  to  bear 
it.  Yet,  Anna,  perform  this  one  request  for  your  wretched 
sister :  for  that  perfidious  man  made  you  the  sole  object 
of  his  esteem,  even  intrusted  you  with  the  secrets  of  his 
soul,  you  alone  knew  the  occasions  and  soft  approaches 
,to  his  heart.  Go,  sister,  and  in  suppliant  terms  bespeak 
jthe  haughty  foe :  I  never  conspired  with  the  Greeks  at 
Aulis  to  extirpate  the  Trojan  race,  or  sent  a  fleet  to  Troy ; 
nor  did  I  disturb  the  ashes  and  manes  of  his  father  An- 
chises.  Why  does  he  stop  his  unrelenting  ears  to  my 
words  ?  whither  does  he  fly  ?  Let  him  grant  but  this  last 
favour  to  his  unhappy  lover ;  to  defer  his  flight  till  it  be 
safe,  and  till  the  winds  blow  fair.  I  plead  no  more  for 
that  old-promised  wedlock,  which  he  has  betrayed ;  nor 
that  he  should  deprive  himself  of  fair  Latium,  and  re- 
linquish a  kingdom.  I  ask  a  trifling  moment ;  a  respite 
and  interval  from  distracting  pain,  till,  subdued  by  for- 
tune, I  learn  to  sustain  my  woes.  This  favour  I  implore 
as  the  last,  (pity  thy  sister !)  which,  when  he  has  granted, 
I  shall  send  him  away  completely  happy  in  my  death. 

To  this  effect  she  prayed ;  and  her  sister,  deeply  dis- 
tressed, bears  once  and  again  this  mournful  message  to 
^neas ;  but  by  none  of  her  mournful  messages  is  he 
moved,  nor  listens  with  calm  regard  to  any  words.  The 
Fates  stand  in  his  way  ;  and  heaven  renders  his  ears  deaf 
to  compassion.  And  as  the  Alpine  north  winds  by  their 
blasts,  now  on  this  side,  now  on  that,  strive  with  joint 
force  to  overturn  a  sturdy  ancient  oak ;  a  loud  howling 
goes  forth,  and  the  leaves  strew  the  ground  in  heapSj 
vvhile  the  trunk  is  shaken  ;  the  tree  itself  cleaves  fast  to 
the  rocks  ;  and  as  high  as  it  shoots  up  to  the  top  in  the 
ethereal  regions,  so  deep  it  descends  with  its  root  towards 
Tartarus :  just  so  the  hero  on  this  side  and  that  side  is 
plied  with  importunate  remonstrances,  and  feels  deep 


102 


B.  IV.  448-477. 


pangs  in  his  mighty  soul ;  his  mind  remains  unmoved ; 
unavailing  tears  are  shed. 

Then,  indeed,  unhappy  Dido,  struck  to  the  heart  by  her 
fate,  longs  for  death  ;  she  sickens  of  beholding  the  canopy 
of  heaven.  The  more  to  prompt  her  to  execute  her  pur- 
pose, and  to  part  with  the  light,  while  she  was  presenting 
her  offerings  upon  the  altar  that  smoked  with  incense,  shi 
beheld,  horrid  to  relate  !  the  sacred  liquors  grow  black 
and  the  outpoured  wine  turn  into  inauspicious  blood. 
This  vision  she  revealed  to  none,  not  even  to  her  sister. 
Besides,  there  was  in  the  palace  a  marble  shrine  in  honour 
of  her  former  husband,  to  which  she  paid  extraordinary 
veneration,  [having]  it  encircled  with  snowy  fillets  of 
wool  and  festal  garlands.  Hence  voices,  and  the  words 
of  her  husband  calling  her,  seemed  to  be  heard,  when  dim 
night  shrouded  the  earth  ;  and  on  the  house-tops  the  soli- 
tary owl  often  complained  in  doleful  ditty,  and  spun  out 
his  long  notes  in  a  mournful  strain.  Besides,  many  pre- 
dictions of  pious  prophets  terrify  her  with  dreadful  fore- 
bodings, ^neas  himself,  now  stern  and  cruel,  disturbs 
her  raving  in  her  sleep  ;  and  still  she  seems  to  be  aban- 
doned in  solitude,  still  to  be  going  a  long  tedious  journey, 
with  no  attendance,  and  to  be  inquest  of  her  Tyrians  in 
some  desert  country  :  as  frantic  Pentheus  sees  troops  of 
Furies,  two  suns,  and  Thebes  appear  double ;  or  like 
Orestes,  Agamemnon's  son,  with  distraction  hurried  on 
the  stage,  when  he  flies  from  his  mother  armed  with  fire- 
brands and  black  snakes  and  the  avenged  Furies  are 
planted  at  the  gate. 

When,  therefore,  overpowered  with  grief,  she  had  taken, 
the  Furies  into  her  breast,  and  determined  to  die,  she 
ponders  the  time  and  manner  with  herself ;  and  thus 
accosting  her  sister,  the  partner  of  her  grief,  covers  her 
intention  in  her  looks,  and  puts  on  a  serene  air  of  hope. 


B.  IT.  478-506. 


103 


Rejoice,  O  sister,  with  thy  sister  !  I  have  found  an  expe- 
dient, which  will  restore  him  to  me,  or  set  my  love-sick 
soul  at  liberty  from  him.  Near  the  extremity  of  the 
ocean  and  the  setting  sun,  the  utmost  boundary  of  Ethiopia 
lies,  where  mighty  Atlas  on  his  shoulder  whirls  about  the 
globe,  spangled  with  refulgent  stars :  hence  appeared  to 
me  a  priestess  of  the  Massylian  nation,  the  guardian  of 
the  temple  of  the  Hesperides,  who  supplied  the  dragon 
with  food,  and  watched  the  sacred  branches  on  the  tree, 
infusing  liquid  honey  and  the  sleepy  poppy.  '  She  under- 
takes, by  charms,  to  release  any  souls,  whom  she  will, 
[from  the  power  of  love,]  and  to  entail  on  others  irksome 
cares  :  to  stop  the  course  of  rivers,  and  turn  the  stars  back- 
ward :  she  summons  up  the  ghosts  by  night.  You  shall 
see  the  earth  bellow  under  her  feetVand  the  wild  ashes 
descend  from  the  mountains.>^VJ^y  dear  sister,  I  call  the 
gods,  and  you,  and  that  dear  person  of  thine,  to  witness, 
that  it  is  against  my  will  I  set  about  these  magic  arts.  Do 
you  in  secrecy  erect  a  funeral  pile  in  the  inner  court, 
under  the  open  air,  and  lay  upon  it  his  arms,  which  he, 
impiously  base,  left  fixed  in  my  bed-chamber,  with  all  his 
clothes,  and  the  nuptial  bed  in  which  I  was  undone.  The 
priestess  orders  and  directs  me  to  destroy  every  monu-, 
ment  of  that  execrable  man.  Having  thus  said,  she 
ceases :  at  the  same  time,  paleness  overcasts  her  whole 
complexion.  Yet  Anna  imagines  not  that  her  sister  aimed 
at  death  under  pretext  of  these  unusual  rites  ;  nor  once 
suspects  that  she  had  formed  such  a  desperate  purpose, 
nor  dreads  anything  worse  than  had  happened  at  the  death 
of  Sichseus.  Therefore  she  makes  the  desired  prepara- 
tions. 

But  the  queen,  as  soon  as  the  vast  pile  was  erected  un- 
der the  open  air  in  the  inner  court,  with  torches  and 
faggots  of  oak,  encircles  the  ground  with  garlands,  and 
6* 


104 


B.  IV.  5C6-586. 


crowns  it  with  funeral  boughs  :  upon  the  bed  she  lays 
his  clothes,  the  sword  he  left,  and  his  image,  well  know- 
ing of  the  future.  Altars  are  raised  around;  and  the 
priestess,  her  hair  dishevelled,  with  thundering  voice, 
invokes  three  hundred  gods,  and  Erebus,  and  Chaos,  and 
threefold  Hecate,  virgin  Diana's  triple  form.  She  sprin-= 
kled  also  water  counterfeiting  that  of  the  lake  Avernus  : 
full-grown  herbs,  cut  by  moonlight  with  brazen  sickles, 
are  searched  out,  together  with  the  juice  of  black  poison  : 
the  [mother's]  love,  too,  torn  from  the  forehead  of  a 
new-foaled  colt,  and  snatched  away  from  the  dam,  is 
sought  out.  The  queen  herself,  now  resolute  on  death, 
having  one  foot  bare,  her  robe  ungirt,  standing  by  the 
altars,  with  the  salt  cake  and  pious  hands,  makes  her  ap- 
peal to  the  gods,  and  to  the  stars  conscious  of  her  fate  : 
then,  if  any  deity,  both  just  and  mindful,  regards  lovers 
unequally  3^oked,  him  she  invokes. 

It  was  night,  and  we'ary  bodies  over  the  earth  were  en- 
joying a  peaceful  repose :  the  woods  and  raging  seas 
were  still ;  when  the  stars  roll  in  the  middle  of  their 
gliding  course  ;  when  every  field  is  hushed  :  the  beasts, 
and  speckled  birds,  both  those  that  far  and  wide  haunt 
the  liquid  lakes,  and  those  that  possess  the  fields  with 
rough  bushes  overgrown,  all  stretched  under  the  silent 
night,  allayed  their  cares  with  sleep,  and  every  heart 
forgot  its  toil.  But  not  so  the  soul-distressed  queen  ;  not 
one  moment  is  she  lulled  to  rest,  nor  enjoys  the  night 
with  eyes  or  mind.  Her  cares  redouble  ;  and  love,  again 
arising,  rages  afresh,  and  fluctuates  with  a  high  tide  of 
passions.  Thus  then  she  persists,  and  revolves  these  se- 
cret reflections  in  her  breast:  I^o  !  what  shall  I  do? 
Bafiled  as  I  am,  shall  I,  in  my  turn,  apply  to  my  former 
sidtors?  shall  I  humbly  sue  for  a  match  with  one  of  the 
Numidians,  whom  I  have  so  often  disdained  as  lords? 


B.  IV.  537-565. 


^NEID. 


105 


Shall  I  then  attend  the  fleet  of  Ilium,  and  submit  to  the 
basest  commands  of  the  Trojans  ?  and  that,  because  I  am 
well  rewarded  for  having  lent  them  my  assistance,  and 
in  their  grateful  hearts  a  just  sense  of  my  former  kind- 
ness remains  ?  But,  suppose  I  had  the  will,  who  will  put 
it  in  my  power,  or  receive  into  their  proud  ships  me,  the 
object  of  their  hate?  Ah!  lost  one,  art  thou  unac-='; 
quainted  with,  art  thou  still  to  learn,  the  perfidiousness 
of  Laomedon's  race  ?  What  then  ?  Shall  I  steal  away 
by  myself  to  accompany  the  triumphant  crew?  or,  at- 
tended by  my  Tyrians,  and  all  my  people  in  a  body,  shall 
I  pursue  th-^m,  and  again  lead  out  to  sea,  and  order  those 
to  spread  their  sails  to  the  winds,  whom,  with  much  ado, 
I  forced  from  Tyre  ?  Nay,  rather  die,  as  you  deserve, 
and  end  your  woes  with  the  sword.  You,  sister,  subdued 
by  my  tears,  you  first  oppressed  my  distracted  mind 
with  these  woes,  and  exposed  me  to  the  enemy.  Might 
I  not  have  led  an  innocent  unwedded  life,  like  a  savage 
of  the  field,  and  have  avoided  such  cares  ?  I  have  vio- 
lated the  faith  I  plighted  to  the  manes  of  Sichaeus. 

Such  heavy  complaints  she  poured  forth  from  her 
heart,  ^neas,  determined  to  depart,  was  enjoying  sleep 
in  the  lofty  stern,  all  things  being  now  in  readiness.  The 
form  of  the  god,  returning  with  the  same  aspect,  ap- 
peared to  him  in  his  sleep,  and  thus  again  seemed  to 
admonish  him  ;  in  every  thing  resembling  Mercury, 
in  voice,  complexion,  golden  locks,  and  comely  youthful 
limbs  :  Goddess-born,  can  you  indulge  in  sleep  at  this 
conjuncture?  Infatuated,  not  to  see  what  dangers  in  a 
moment  may  beset  you,  nor  listen  to  the  breathing  of 
the  friendly  zephyrs  I  She,  bent  on  death,  is  revolving 
guileful  purposes  and  horrid  wickedness  in  her  breast, 
and  fluctuates  with  a  tide  of  angry  passions.  Will  you 
not  fly  hence  with  precipitation,  while  thus  to  fly  is  in 


106 


B.  IV.  566-59a 


yonr  power?  Forthwith  you  shall  behold  the  sea  in 
commotion  with  her  oars,  and  torches  fiercely  blaze; 
forthwith  the  shore  lighted  np  with  flames,  if  the  morn- 
ing reach  you  lingering  on  these  coasts.  Come  then, 
quick,  break  off  delay :  woman  is  a  fickle  and  ever 
changeable  creature."  This  said,  he  mingled  with  the 
sable  night. 

Then,  indeed,  ^neas,  in  consternation  at  this  sudden 
apparition,  snatches  his  frame  from  the  couch,  and 
rouses  his  companions  :  Awake,  my  mates,  in  haste,  and 
plant  yourselves  on  the  benches  ;  instantly  unfurl  the  sails. 
A  god,  despatched  from  the  high  heavens,  once  more 
prompts  me  to  hasten  my  departure,  and  cut  the  twisted 
cables.  We  follow  thee,  O  holy  power,  whoever  thou 
art,  and  once  more  with  joy  obey  thy  commands.  Ah  ! 
be  present,  lend  us  thy  propitious  aid,  and  light  up 
friendly  stars  in  the  heavens.  He  said,  and  snatches  his 
keen  flashing  sword  from  the  sheath,  and  cuts  the  hal- 
sers  with  the  drawn  steel.  The  same  eagerness  at  once 
seizes  them  all :  they  hale,  they  hurry  away  :  they  have 
quitted  the  shore  :  the  sea  lies  hidden  under  the  fleet ; 
they  with  exerted  vigour  upturn  the  foaming  billows, 
and  sweep  the  azure  deep. 

And  now  Aurora,  leaving  Tithonus'  saffron  bed,  first 
sowed  the  earth  with  new-born  light :  soon  as  the  queen 
from  her  watch-towers  marked  the  dawn  w^hitening,  and 
the  fleet  setting  forward  with  balanced  sails,  and  perceived 
the  shore  and  vacant  port  without  a  rower :  thrice  and 
four  times  smiting  her  fair  bosom,  and  tearing  her  golder 
locks  :  O  Jupiter  1  shall  he  go  ?  she  says :  and  shall  this 
stranger  mock  my  kingdom  ?  Will  they  not  make  ready 
arms,  and  pursue  from  all  the  city?  and  will  not  others 
tear  my  ships  from  the  docks?  Run  quick,  fetch  flames, 
unfurl  the  sails,  ply  the  oars.  What  am  I  saying  ?  or  where 


fc.iy.  595-622.  ^NKID.  107 

am  I  ?  what  madness  turns  my  brain  ?  Unhappy  Dido  !  art 
thou  then  at  length  stung  with  the  sense  of  his  foul  impi- 
ous deeds?  Then  it  had  become  thee  so  to  act,  when 
thou  impartedst  [to  him]  thy  sceptre.  Is  this  the  honour, 
the  faith !  this  [the  man]  who,  they  say,  carries  with  him 
his  country's  gods  I  who  bore  on  his  shoulders  his  father 
spent  with  age  !  Might  I  not  have  torn  in  pieces  his 
'mangled  body,  and  strewn  it  on  the  waves?  might  I  not 
with  the  sword  have  destroyed  his  friends,  Ascanius  him- 
self, and  served  him  up  for  a  banquet  at  his  father's  table  ? 
But  the  fortune  of  the  fight  was  doubtful.  Grant  it  had 
been  so :  thus  resolute  on  death,  whom  had  I  to  fear?  I-^^ 
might  have  hurled  firebrands  into  his  camp,  filled  the 
hatches  with  flames,  extirpated  the  son,  the  sire,  with  the 
whole  race,  and  flung  myself  upon  the  pile.  Thou  Sun, 
who  with  thy  flaming  beams  surveyest  all  works  on  earth, 
and  thou,  Juno,  the  author  and  witness  of  these  my  cares  ; 
Hecate,  with  howlings  invoked  through  the  cities  in  the 
crossways  by  night ;  and  ye  avenging  Furies,  and  gods  of 
dying  Klisa  !  receive  these  my  words  ;  in  justice  to  my 
wrongs,  turn  to  me  your  divine  regard,  and  hearken  to 
my  prayers.  If  it  must  be,  and  Jove's  decrees  so  require, 
if  this  be  his  determination,  that  the  execrable  traitor 
reach  the  port,  and  get  safe  to  land  :  yet  harassed,  at  least, 
by  war,  and  the  hostilities  of  an  audacious  people,  ex- 
pelled from  his  own  territories,  torn  from  the  embraces 
of  liilus,  may  he  sue  to  others  for  relief,  and  see  the  igno- 
minious deaths  of  his  friends  ;  and  after  he  shall  have  sub- 
mitted to  the  terms  of  a  disadvantageous  peace,  let  him 
neither  enjoy  his  crown,  nor  the  wished-for  light,  but  die 
before  his  time,  and  [lie]  unburied  in  the  midst  of  the 
sandy  shore.  These  are  my  prayers  ;  these  the  last  words 
I  pour  forth  with  my  blood.  You,  too,  O  Tyrians,  with  ir- 
reconcilable enmity,  pursue  his  offspring  and  all  his  future 


108 


B.  IV.  623-654. 


race,  and  present  these  offerings  to  my  shade  :  let  no 
amity  or  leagues  between  the  two  nations  subsist.  Arise 
some  avenger  from  my  ashes,  who  may  persecute  those 
Trojan  fugitives  with  fire  and  sword,  now,  hereafter,  at 
whatever  time  power  shall  be  given.  Let  them  take  this 
curse  from  me,  that  their  shores,  their  waves,  their  arms, 
and  ours,  may  still  be  opposed  to  one  another  ;  and  may 
their  posterity  too  [and  ours]  be  still  in  war  engaged. 

She  said,  and  every  way  turned  her  shifting  soul,  seek- 
ing, as  soon  as  possible,  to  bereave  herself  of  the  hated 
light.  Then  briefly  thus  she  bespoke  Barce,  the  nurse  of 
Sichseus  (for  the  dark  grave  lodged  her  own  in  her  native 
country) :  Dear  nurse,  call  hither  to  me  my  sister  Anna  ; 
bid  her  make  haste  to  sprinkle  her  body  with  running 
w^ater,  and  bring  with  her  the  victims  and  the  things  for 
expiation  of  which  I  told  her  :  thus  let  her  come  ;  and  you 
yourself  cover  your  temples  with  a  holy  fillet.  I  have  a 
mind  to  finish  the  sacrifice  begun  with  proper  rites,  which 
I  have  prepared  for  Jupiter  Stygius,  to  put  a  period  to  my 
miseries,  and  to  commit  to  the  flames  the  pile  of  the 
Trojan,  She  said :  the  other  quickened  her  pace  with  an 
old  woman's  of&ciousness. 

But  Dido,  trembling  with  agitation,  and  maddened  on 
account  of  her  horrid  purpose,  rolling  her  blood-red  eye- 
balls, her  throbbing  cheeks  suffused  with  spots,  and  all 
pale  with  approaching  death,  burst  into  the  gate  of  the 
inner  palace,  and  frantic  mounts  the  lofty  pile,  and  un- 
sheaths  the  Trojan  sword ;  a  present  not  provided  for 
i^uch  purposes  as  these.  Here,  after  she  had  viewed  the 
uVojan  vestments  and  the  conscious  bed,  having  wept  and 
mused  awhile,  she  threw  herself  on  the  bed,  and  spoke 
her  last  words  :  Ye  dear  remains,  while  god  and  the  fates 
permitted,  receive  this  soul,  and  free  me  froni  these 
cares.    I  have  lived,  and  finished  the  race  which  fortune 


B.  IV.  654-683. 


^NKID. 


109 


gave  me.  And  now  my  ghost  shall  descend  illnstrions  to 
the  shades  below :  I  have  raised  a  glorious  city,  have  seen 
the  walls  of  my  own  building,  have  avenged  my  husband, 
punished  an  unnatural  brother  ;  happy,  ah !  too  happy, 
had  but  the  Trojan  ships  never  touched  my  shores  !  She 
said,  and  pressing  her  lips  to  the  bed,  Shall  I  die  unre- 
venged?  But  let  me  die,  she  says:  thus,  thus  with 
pleasure  I  descend  to  the  shades  below.  I^et  the  cruel 
Trojan  from  the  sea  feed  his  eyes  with  these  flames,  and 
bear  with  him  the  omens  of  my  death.  She  said  ;  and 
while  she  spoke,  her  attendants  perceive  her  fallen  on 
the  sword,  and  the  weapon  stained  with  foaming  gore, 
and  her  hands  besmeared.  The  outcry  reaches  the  lofty 
palace  ;  fame  wildly  flies  through  the  alarmed  city  ;  the 
houses  ring  with  lamentations,  groans,  and  female  yells, 
and  the  sky  resounds  with  loud  shrieks :  just  as  if  all 
Carthage,  or  ancient  Tyre,  in  the  hands  of  the  invading 
enemy,  were  falling  to  the  ground,  and  the  furious  flames 
were  rolling  over  the  tops  of  houses  and  temples. 

Her  sister  was  breathless  at  the  news,  and  with  trem- 
bling haste,  all  aghast,  tearing  her  face  with  her  nails, 
and  [beating]  her  bosom  with  her  hands,  rushes  through 
the  midst  of  the  crowd,  and  calls  her  dying  [sister]  by 
name  :  O  sister,  was  this  your  meaning  ?  did  you  practice 
thus  to  deceive  me  ?  was  this  what  I  had  to  expect  from 
that  pile,  those  fires  and  altars?  Abandoned!  where 
shall  I  begin  to  complain  ?  Did  you  disdain  a  sister  for 
yoiar  companion  in  death  ?  Had  you  invited  me  to  the 
same  fate,  one  distress  and  one  hour  had  snatched  us  both 
away  by  the  sword.  Did  I  raise  [that  pile]  with  these 
very  hands,  and  with  my  voice  invoke  our  country's 
gods,  that  I  should  cruelly  absent  myself  from  you,  thus 
stretched  upon  it.  Ah  sister !  you  have  involved  your- 
self and  me,  your  people,  your  Tyrian  nobles,  and  your 


110 


^NEID.  B,  IV.  684-705.   b.  v.  1-2, 


city,  in  one  -common  ruin.  Let  me  bathe  her  wounds 
with  water,  and  catch  with  my  lips,  if  there  be  yet  any 
straggling  remains  of  breath.  This  said,  she  mounted 
the  high  steps,  and  in  her  bosom  embracing,  cherished 
her  expiring  sister  with  sighs,  and  dried  up  the  black 
blood  with  her  robe.  She  essaying  to  lift  her  heavy  eye^ 
again  sinks  down.  The  wound  deep  fixed  in  her  breast, 
emits  a  bubbling  noise.  Thrice  leaning  on  her  elbow, 
she  made  an  effort  to  raise  herself  up  ;  thrice  she  fell 
back  on  the  bed,  and  with  swimming  eyes  sought  the 
light  of  heaven,  and  having  found  it,  heaved  a  groan. 

Then  all-powerful  Juno,  in  pity  to  her  lingering  pain 
and  uneasy  death,  sent  down  Iris  from  heaven,  to  release 
the  struggling  soul  and  the  tie  that  bound  it  to  the  body : 
for,  since  she  neither  fell  by  fate,  nor  by  a  deserved  death, 
but  unhappily  before  her  time,  and  maddened  with  sud- 
den rage,  Proserpina -had  not  yet  cropped  the  yellow  hair 
from  the  crown  of  her  head,  and  condemned  her  to  Sty- 
gian Pluto.  Therefore  dewy  Iris,  drawing  a  thousand 
various  colours  from  the  opposite  sun,  shoots  downward 
through  the  sky  on  saffron  wings,  and  alighted  on  her 
head :  I,  by  command,  bear  away  this  lock  sacred  to 
Pluto,  and  disengage  you  from  that  body.  She  said,  and 
cut  the  lock  with  her  right  hand :  at  once  all  the  vital 
heat  was  extinguished,  and  life  vanished  into  air. 

BOOK  V. 

n  the  Fifth  Book,  ^neas  sails  from  Carthage  for  Italy,  but  is  forced  by  a 
storm  to  revisit  Drepanum  in  Sicily,  where  he  celebrates  the  anniversary 
if  his  father's  death  by  various  games  and  feats  at  arms.  Here  the 
Trojan  woman  set  fire  to  the  fleet,  which  is  saved  by  the  interposition  of 
Jupiter,  with  the  loss  of  four  ships.  After  this  event,  ^neas  pursues  his 
voyage  to  Italy, 

Meanwhile,  ^neas,  in  direct  course,  was  now  fairly 
on  his  route  with  the  fleet,  and  was  cutting  the  black 


B.v.3-31.  ^NKID.  Ill 

biUows  before  the  wind,  looking  back  to  the  walls  which 
now  glare  with  the  flames  of  unfortunate  Klisa.  What 
cause  may  have  kindled  such  a  blaze  is  unknown  ;  but 
the  thought  of  those  cruel  agonies  that  arise  from  violent 
love  when  injured,  and  the  knowledge  of  what  frantic 
woman  can  do,  led  the  minds  of  the  Trojans  through 
dismal  forebodings. 

As  soon  as  their  ships  held  the  main,  and  no  more  land 
appears,  sky  all  around,  and  ocean  all  around ;  a  dark 
lead-coloured  watery  cloud  stood  over  his  head,  bringing 
on  night,  and  storm  ;  and  the  waves  became  horrid  in  the 
gloom.  The  pilot  Palinurus  himself  from  the  lofty  stern 
[exclaims]  :  Ah  I  why  have  such  threatening  clouds 
begirt  the  sky  ?  or  what,  O  father  Neptune,  hast  thou  in 
view?  Thus  having  spoken,  he  next  commands  to  furl 
the  sails,  and  ply  the  sturdy  oars ;  the  bellying  canvass 
he  turns  askance  to  the  wind,  and  thus  speaks :  Mag- 
nanimous ^neas,  should  Jupiter  on  his  authority  assure 
me,  I  could  not  hope  to  reach  Italy  in  this  weather.  The 
winds  changed  roar  across  our  path,  and  arise  thick  from 
the  darkening  west,  and  the  air  is  condensed  into  cloud. 
We  are  neither  able  to  make  head  against  [the  storm], 
nor  even  to  withstand  it :  since  fortune  overpowers  us, 
let  us  follow  her,  and  turn  our  course  where  she  invites 
us :  the  trusty  shores  of  your  brother  Kryx,  and  the 
Sicilian  ports,  I  deem  not  far  off,  if  I  but  rightly  remem- 
bering review  the  stars  I  observed  before.  Then  the 
pious^neas  [said],  I  indeed  have  observed  long  ago 
that  the  winds  urge  us  to  this,  and  that  your  contrary 
efforts  are  in  vain.  Shift  your  course  by  the  sails.  Can 
any  land  be  more  welcome  to  me,  or  where  I  would 
sooner  choose  to  put  in  my  weather-beaten  ships,  than 
that  which  preserves  for  me  Trojan  Acestes,  and  in  its 
womb  contains  the  bones  of  my  father  Anchises  ?  This 


w^NElD.  B.  V.  32=59. 

said,  they  make  towards  the  port,  and  the  prosperous 
zephyrs  stretch  the  sails :  the  fleet  swiftly  rides  on  the 
flood  ;  and  at  length  the  joyous  crew  are  wafted  to  the 
well-known  strand.  But  Acestes,  from  a  mountain's 
lofty  summit,  struck  with  the  distant  prospect  of  their 
arrival,  and  at  the  friendly  ships,  comes  up  to  them,  all 
-ough  with  javelins,  and  the  hide  of  an  African  bear  : 
whom,  begotten  by  the  river  Crinisius,  a  Trojan  mother 
bore.  He,  not  unmindful  of  his  origin,  congratulates 
them  on  their  safe  arrival,  and  cheerfully  entertains  them 
with  rude  magnificence,  and  refreshes  them  fatigued 
with  friendly  cheer. 

When  with  the  early  dawn  the  ensuing  bright  day  had 
chased  away  the  stars,  ^neas  summons  to  council  his 
followers  from  all  the  shore,  and  from  the  summit  of  a 
rising  ground  addresses  them  :  Illustrious  Trojans,  whose 
descent  is  from  the  exalted  blood  of  the  gods,  the  annual 
circle  is  completed,  by  the  fulfilment  of  months,  since 
we  lodged  in  the  earth  the  relics  and  bones  of  my  god- 
like sire,  and  consecrated  to  him  the  altars  of  mourning. 
And  now  the  day,  if  I  mistake  not,  is  at  hand,  which  I 
shall  always  account  a  day  of  sorrow,  always  a  day  to  be 
honoured:  such,  ye  gods,  has  been  your  pleasure.  Were 
I  to  pass  this  day  in  exile  among  the  Syrtesof  Getulia,  or 
overtaken  [by  it]  on  the  Grecian  Sea,  or  in  the  city  of 
Mycene,  yet  would  I  regularly  perform  my  annual  vows, 
and  the  solemn  funeral  processions,  and  heap  the  altars 
with  their  proper  offerings.  Now,  without  premeditated 
design,  though  not,  I  judge,  without  the  w^ill  or  the  in- 
fluence of  the  gods,  we  are  come  to  the  ashes  and  bones 
of  my  own  father,  and  are  wafted  to  the  friendly  port 
which  we  are  now  entering.  Come  then,  and  let  us  all 
celebrate  the  joyous  rites.  Let  us  pray  for  [prosperous] 
winds,  and  that,  when  our  city  is  built,  he  will  permi  xiie 


B.  V.  60-89. 


113 


to  offer  to  him  these  rites  annually  in  temples  consecrated 
to  his  honour.  Acestes,  a  son  of  Troy,  gives  you  two  oxen 
for  each  ship  :  invite  to  the  feast  your  household  and 
country  gods,  and  those  whom  our  host  Acestes  worships. 
Further,  if  the  ninth  morning  shall  bring  forth  the  day 
fair  and  serene  to  mortals,  and  brighten  up  the  world  with 
'ts  beams,  I  will  propose  to  the  Trojans  the  first  trial  of 
skill  to  be  with  the  swiftest  of  their  ships.  And  whoever 
excels  in  running,  in  strength  who  boldly  dares,  or  moves 
superior  in  the  javelin,  and  the  light  arrows,  or  who  has 
courage  to  encounter  with  the  bloody  cestus  ;  let  all  such 
be  ready  at  hand,  and  expect  prizes  of  victory  suitable  to 
their  merit.  Do  ye  all  keep  religious  guard  over  your 
lips,  and  encircle  your  temples  with  boughs. 

This  said,  he  crowns  his  temples  with  his  mother's 
myrtle.  The  same  does  Elymus ;  the  same  Acestes 
ripened  in  years ;  the  same  the  boy  Ascanius,  whose  ex- 
ample the  other  youths  follow.  He  went  from  the  as- 
sembly to  the  tomb  with  many  thousands,  in  the  centre 
of  a  numerous  retinue  attending.  Here  in  due  form,  by 
way  of  libation,  he  pours  on  the  ground  to  Bacchus  two 
bowls  of  wine,  two  of  new  milk,  two  of  sacred  blood ; 
then  scatters  blooming  flowers,  and  thus  speaks  :  Hail, 
holy  sire  !  once  more  hail,  ye  ashes  revisited  in  vain  !  ye 
ghosts  and  shades  of  my  father  !  Heaven  would  not  al- 
Ipw  us  to  go  together  in  quest  of  the  bounds  of  Italy, 
and  of  the  lands  alloted  to  me  by  fate,  or  the  Ausonian  Ti- 
ber, whatever  river  that  is.  He  said ;  when  from  the 
bottom  of  the  shrine  a  huge  slippery  snake  trailed  along, 
seven  circling  spires,  seven  folds,  gently  twining  round 
the  tomb,  and  gliding  over  the  altars  ;  whose  back  azure 
streaks,  and  whose  scales  drops  of  burnished  gold  bright- 
ened up  ;  as  the  bow  in  the  clouds  draws  a  thousand 
various  colours  from  the  opposite  sun.    ^neas  stood 


114 


B.  V.  91-117. 


amazed  at  the  sight.  At  length  the  reptile,  creening 
with  his  long  train  between  the  bowls  and  smooth-pol- 
ished goblets,  gently  tasted  the  banquet,  and  harmless 
retired  again  into  the  bottom  of  the  tomb,  and  left  the 
altars  on  which  he  had  fed.  ^neas  with  the  more  zeal 
pursues  the  sacrifice  begun  in  honour  of  his  father,  in 
doubt  whether  to  think  it  the  genius  of  the  place,  or  the 
attendant  of  his  parent.  He  sacrificed  five  ewes,  two 
years  old,  according  to  the  custom  ;  as  many  sows,  as 
many  bullocks  with  sable  backs  :  and  he  poured  out  wine 
from  the  goblets,  and  invoked  the  soul  of  great  Anchises, 
and  his  ghost  from  Acheron  released.  In  like  manner 
his  companions  offer  gifts,  with  joy,  each  according  to 
his  ability ;  they  load  the  altars,  and  sacrifice  bullocks. 
Others  place  the  brazen  caldrons  in  order,  and,  stretched 
along  the  grass,  apply  burning  coals  under  the  spits,  and 
roast  the  flesh. 

Now  the  wished-for  day  approached,  and  the  steeds  of 
the  sun  ushering  in  the  ninth  morning  with  serene  sky  ; 
fame,  and  the  renown  of  illustrious  Acestes,  had  drawn 
together  the  neighborhood.  They  filled  the  shores  with 
joyous  crowd,  some  to  see  the  Trojans,  some,  too,  pre- 
pared to  try  their  skill.  The  prizes  first  are  set  before 
their  eyes  in  the  midst  of  the  circus ;  sacred  tripods, 
green  garlands,  and  palms,  the  reward  of  the  conquer- 
ors ;  arms,  and  vestments  of  purple  dye,  two  talents,  one 
of  gold  and  one  silver  :  and  the  trumpet  from  the  midst 
of  the  rising  ground  gives  the  signal  that  the  games  are 
begun. 

Four  ships  selected  from  the  whole  fleet,  equally 
matched  with  ponderous  oars,  first  enter  the  lists.  Mnes- 
theus  manages  the  swift-sailing  Pristis,  with  stout  rowers, 
[destined]  soon  [to  be]  the  Italian  Mnestheus,  from  which 
name  the  family  of  Memmius  is  derived ;  Gyas,  the  huge 


B.  V.  118-148 


^NKID. 


115 


Chimera  of  stupendous  bulk,  a  work  like  a  city,  which  with 
.  a  triple  tier  the  Trojan  youth  inpel ;  the  oars  rise  together 
m-i  triple  row.  Sergestus,  from  whom  the  Sergian  family 
V  Vs  its  name,  rides  in  the  bulky  Centaur  ;  and  Cloanthus 
ih  the  sea-green  Scylla,  from  whom,  O  Roman  Cluentius, 
is  thy  descent.  Far  in  the  sea  there  lies  a  rock  opposite 
to  the  foaming  shore,  which,  sometimes  overwhelmed,  is 
buffeted  by  the  swelling  surges,  when  the  wintry  north- 
west winds  overcloud  the  stars :  in  a  calm  it  lies  hushed, 
and  rises  above  the  still  wave  as  a  plain,  and  a  delightful 
station  for  the  cormorants  basking  in  the  sun.  Here 
father  ^neas  erected  a  verdant  goal  of  branching  oak  for 
a  signal  to  the  mariners ;  whence  they  might  know  to 
turn  back,  and  whence  to  wind  about  the  long  circuits. 
Then  they  choose  their  places  by  lot ;  and  on  the  poops 
the  leaders,  adorned  with  gold  and  purple,  shine  from 
afar  with  distinguished  lustre.  The  rest  of  the  youth  are 
crowned  with  poplar  wreathes,  and  glitter,  having  their 
naked  shoulders  besmeared  with  oil.  They  sit  down  side 
by  side  on  the  benches,  and  their  arms  are  stretched  to 
the  oars :  with  eager  attention  they  wait  the  signal,  and 
their  throbbing  hearts  beat  heavily  with  the  impulse  of 
fear,  and  the  generous  thirst  of  praise.  Then,  as  soon  as 
the  loud  trumpet  gave  the  signal,  all  (there  is  no  delay) 
started  from  their  barrier :  the  seaman's  clamour  strikes 
the  skies  ;  and  the  seas,  upturned  by  their  in-bent  arms, 
'  foam.  At  once  they  plough  the  watery  furrows  ;  and  the 
whole  deep  opens,  convulsed  with  oars  and  trident  beaks. 
Not  with  such  violent  speed  the  coursers  in  the  two-yoked 
chariot-race  spring  to  the  field,  and  start  with  full  career 
from  the  goal ;  nor  with  such  ardour  do  the  charioteers 
shake  the  waving  reins  over  the  flying  steeds,  and,  bend- 
ing forward,  hang  to  [give]  the  lash.  Then,  with  the 
applause  and  uproar  of  the  seamen,  and  the  eager  accia- 


116 


B.  V.  149-178. 


mations  of  the  favouring  crowd,  every  grove  resounds : 
the  bounded  shores  roll  the  voices  on ;  the  lashed  hills 
re-echo  the  sound.  Amidst  the  bustle  and  uproar,  Gyas 
flies  out  before  the  rest,  and  scuds  away  the  foremost  on 
the  waves  :  whom  next  Cloanthus  follows,  a  more  skilful 
rower,  but  the  vessel,  sluggish  through  its  bulk,  retards 
him.  After  these,  at  equal  distance,  the  Pristis  and  Cen- 
taur strive  to  gain  the  foremost  place.  And  now  the 
Pristis  has  the  advantage,  now  the  huge  Centaur  gets  be- 
fore her  vanquished  [antagonist]  ;  anon  both  advance 
together  with  united  fronts,  and  with  their  long  keels 
plough  the  briny  waves.  And  now  they  were  approach- 
ing the  rock,  and  had  reached  the  goal,  when  Gyas  the 
foremost,  and  [hitherto]  victorious,  thus  in  mid-sea  ac- 
costs Menoetes,  the  pilot  of  his  ship :  Whither,  I  pray, 
are  you  going  so  far  to  the  right  ?  this  way  steer  your 
course  ;  keep  to  the  shore,  and  let  the  oar  graze  upon  the 
rocks  to  the  left:  let  others  stand  out  to  sea.  He  said  : 
but  Menoetes,  dreading  the  hidden  rocks,  turns  out  his 
prow  towards  the  waves.  Gyas  with  loud  voice  called  to 
him  again,  Menoetes,  whither  are  you  steering  opposite? 
once  more,  I  say,  keep  to  the  rocks :  and  lo !  he  espies 
Cloanthus  pressing  on  his  rear,  and  keeping  a  nearer  com- 
pass. He,  between  Gyas'  ship  and  the  roaring  rocks, 
brushes  along  the  left-hand  path  on  the  inside,  and  sud- 
denly gets  a-head  of  him  who  was  before,  and  leaving  the 
goal,  gains  the  safe  seas.  Then  indeed  severe  grief  blazed 
up  in  the  inmost  vitals  of  the  youth :  nor  were  his  cheeks 
free  from  tears ;  and  regardless  both  of  his  own  dignity 
and  the  safety  of  his  friends,  he  hurls  dastardly  MenoeteS^ 
headlong  from  the  lofty  stern  into  the  sea^'^^/Himself  suc- 
ceeds to  the  helm  both  as  pilot  and  commander ;  encour- 
ages his  men,  and  turns  his  rudder  to  the  shore.  But 
when  encumbered  Menoetes  with  difficulty  at  length  had 


B.  V.  179-206. 


^ne:id. 


117 


risen  from  the  deep  bottom,  being  now  in  years,  and 
languid  by  reason  of  his  wet  garments,  he  crawls  up  to 
the  summit  of  the  rock,  and  sat  down  oc  the  dry  cliff. 
The  Trojans  laughed  both  to  see  him  fall,  and  to  see  him 
swimming ;  and  they  renew  their  laughter  when  from  his 
breast  he  vomits  up  the  briny  wave.    Here  Sergestus  and 
Mnestheus,  the  two  last,  were  fired  with  joyous  hope  to 
outstrip  Gyas  lagging  behind.    Sergestus  gets  the  start, 
and  makes  up  to  the  rock,  nor  yet  had  he  the  advantage 
by  the  whole  length  of  the  ship,  only  by  a  part :  the  rival 
Pristis  partly  presses  him  with  her  beak.    But  Mnes- 
theus on  the  mid-deck  walking  among  his  crew  animates 
them :  My  Hectorean  bands,  whom  I  chose  associates  in 
Troy's  last  fatal  hour,  now,  now  with  keenness  ply  your 
oars ;  now  exert  that  vigour,  now  that  soul  of  which 
you  were  masters  in  the  quicksands  of  Getulia,  in  the 
Ionian  Sea,  and  on  Malea's  coast,  where  waves  succeeding 
waves  pursued  us.    Your  Mnestheus  aspires  not  now  to 
the  foremost  place,  nor  contends  for  the  victory  :  though 
would  to  heaven  !  but  may  those  conquer  to  whom  thou, 
O  Neptune,  hast  given  that  boon.    I^et  us  be  ashamed  to 
come  in  the  last.    Surmount,  my  countrymen,  and  repel 
that  criminal  disgrace.    They  bend  to  the  oar  with  the 
greatest  emulation:  the  brazen-beaked  galley  trembles 
with  the  vast  strokes,  and  the  [watery]  surface  flies  from 
under  them.    Then  thick  panting  shakes  their  limbs  and 
parched  jaws  :  sweat  flows  from  every  pore  in  rivulets. 
Mere  chance  procured  the  men  the  wished-for  honour : 
for  while  Sergestus,  between  Mnestheus  and  the  goal,  in 
his  furious  career,  is  pressing  up  the  head  of  the  ship  to 
the  rocks,  and  steers  in  a  disadvantageous  place,  he 
unluckily  stuck  among  the  jutting  rocks.    The  cliffs  are 
shaken,  and  on  a  sharp  reef  the  struggling  oars  were 
loudly  snapped,  and  the  prow  dashed  against  [the  rocks] 


118 


-^ne:id. 


5.  y.  207-235. 


Stood  suspended.  The  mariners  arise  together,  and  with 
great  clamour  desist ;  and  apply  stakes  shod  with  iron, 
and  poles  with  sharpened  points,  and  gather  up  their 
shattered  oars  on  the  stream.  Meanwhile  Mnestheus  re- 
joiced, and  more  animated  by  this  same  success,  with  the 
nimble  march  of  the  oars,  and  winds  called  to  his  aid,  cuts 
the  easy  waves,  and  scuds  away  on  the  open  sea.  As  a 
pigeon ,  whose  nest  and  darling  young  are  in  some  harbour- 
ing rock,  suddenly  scared  from  her  covert,  flies  away 
into  the  fields,  and,  starting  in  a  fright,  gives  a  loud  flap- 
ping with  her  wings  against  the  nest;  then,  shooting 
through  the  calm,  still  air,  skims  along  the  liquid  way,  nor 
moves  her  noble  pinions  :  thus  Mnestheus,  thus  the  Pris- 
tis  herself  in  her  career,  cuts  the  utmost  boundary  of  the 
watery  plain ;  thus  the  mere  vehemence  of  her  motion 
carries  her  forward  in  her  flying  course.  And  first  she 
leaves  behind,  her  Sergestus  struggling  against  the  high 
rocks  and  scanty  shallows,  in  vain  imploring  aid,  and  try- 
ing to  row  on  with  shattered  oars.  Then  he  overtakes 
Gyas,  and  Chimera's  self  of  mighty  bulk  :  she  yields,  be- 
cause she  is  deprived  of  her  pilot.  And  now,  in  the  very 
end  of  the  course,  Cloanthus  alone  is  before  him  :  whom 
he  endeavours  to  reach,  and,  straining  with  the  utmost 
vigour,  pursues.  Then,  indeed,  the  shouts  redouble,  and 
all,  with  hearty  applauses,  stimulate  him  in  the  pursuit, 
and  the  sky  resounds  with  roaring  acclamations.  These 
are  fired  with  indignation,  lest  they  should  lose  their  pos- 
session of  glory  and  the  honour  they  have  won  ;  and  they 
are  willing  to  barter  life  for  renown.  Those  success  cher- 
ishes ;  they  are  able  because  they  seem  to  be  able.  And, 
perhaps,  they  had  both  gained  the  prize  with  equalled 
beaks,  had  not  Cloanthus,  stretching  out  his  hands  to  the 
sea,  poured  forth  prayers  and  invoked  the  gods  to  hi^ 
vows:    Ye  gods,  to  whom  belongs  the  empire  of  tb'' 


B.  V.  236-266. 


119 


main,  over  whose  seas  I  sail,  I,  bound  by  vow,  will  joy- 
ously present  before  your  altars  a  snow-white  bull  on  this 
shore,  and  cast  forth  the  entrails  on  the  briny  wave  [as 
an  offering  to  you],  and  make  a  libation  of  pure  wine. 
He  said  ;  and  the  whole  choir  of  the  Nereids  and  Phor- 
cus,  and  the  virgin  Panopea,  heard  him  from  the  bottom 
of  the  waves;  and  father  Portunus  himself,  with  his 
mighty  hand,  pushed  on  the  galley  in  her  course.  She 
flies  to  land  swifter  than  the  south  wind,  and  the  winged 
arrow,  and  lodged  herself  in  the  harbour's  deep  recess. 
Then  Anchises'  son,  having  assembled  all  in  form,  pro- 
claims Cloanthus  conqueror,  by  the  loud  voice  of  the 
herald,  and  crowns  his  temples  with  verdant  laurel ;  al- 
lows him  the  choice  of  three  bullocks  as  presents  for' the 
galleys,  and  gives  him  wine  and  a  great  talent  of  silver  to 
carry  away.  On  the  leaders  themselves  he  confers  pe- 
culiar honours  :  to  the  conqueror  he  presents  a  mantle 
embroidered  with  gold,  round  which  a  thick  fringe  of 
Melibean  purple  ran  in  a  double  maze,  and  where  the 
royal  boy  [Ganymede]  inwoven  pursues,  with  darts  and 
full  career,  the  fleet  stags  on  woody  Ida,  eager,  seeming 
to  pant  for  breath  ;  ^  whom  Jove's  swift  armour-bearer, 
with  his  crooked  talons,  snatched  aloft  from  Ida.  The 
aged  keepers  in  vain  stretch  out  their  hands  to  the  stars, 
and  the  baying  of  the  hounds  rages  to  the  skies:^^^' 
him  who  by  his  merit  won  the  second  place,  he  givds  to 
wear  a  coat  of  mail,  thick  set  with  polished  rings,  and 
wrought  in  gold  with  a  triple  tissue,  which  he  himself 
victorious  had  torn  from  Demoleus  by  rapid  Simois  under 
lofty  Ilium  :  to  be  his  ornament  and  defence  in  war.  The 
servants,  Phegeus  and  Sagaris,  with  united  force,  scarcely 
bore  the  cumbrous  [armour]  on  their  shoulders  :  but  De^ 
moleus,  formerly  clad  therein,  used  to  chase  before  him 
the  straggling  Trojans.  For  the  third  present  he 
6 


120 


B  V.  267-297. 


Stows  two  caldrons  of  brass,  and  silver  bowls  of  finished 
work,  and  rough  with  figures.  And  thus  now  all  re- 
warded, and  elated  with  their  wealth,  were  moving  along, 
having  their  temples  bound  with  scarlet  fillets,  when 
Sergestus  brought  up  his  hooted  galley  without  honour, 
hardly  with  much  art  disentangled  from  the  cruel  rock^ 
with  the  loss  of  her  oars,  and  in  one  tier  quite  disabled. 
As  often  a  serpent  surprised  in  the  highway,  (which  a 
brazen  w^heel  hath  gone  athwart,  or  a  traveller,  coming 
heavy  with  a  blow,  hath  left  half  dead  and  mangled  by  a 
stone,)  attempting  in  vain  to  fly,  shoots  his  body  in  long 
wreaths ;  in  one  part  fierce,  darting  fire  from  his  eyes, 
and  rearing  aloft  his  hissing  neck ;  the  other  part, 
maimed  with  the  wound,  retards  him,  twisting  [his  body] 
in  knots,  and  winding  himself  up  on  his  own  limbs: 
with  such  kind  of  steerage  the  ship  slowly  moved  along : 
her  sails,  however,  she  expands,  and  enters  the  port  with 
full  sail,  ^neas  gladly  confers  on  Sergestus  the  prom- 
ised reward  for  preserving  the  vessel,  and  bringing  the 
crew  safe  back.  To  him  is  given  a  female  slave,  not  un- 
skilful in  the  works  of  Minerva,  Pholoe,  a  Cretan  by  ex- 
traction, with  her  two  children  on  the  breast. 

This  game  being  over,  pious  ^neas  advances  to  a 
grassy  plain,  which  woods  on  winding  hills  enclosed 
around ;  and  in  the  mid  valley  was  the  circuit  of  a  the- 
atre, whither  the  hero,  in  the  midst  of  many  thousands, 
repaired,  and  took  a  high  seat.  Here  he  offers  inviting 
rewards  to  those  who  chanced  to  be  inclined  to  enter  the 
lists  in  the  rapid  race,  and  exhibits  the  prizes.  The  Tro- 
jans and  Sicilians,  in  mingled  throngs,  convene  from 
every  quarter :  Nisus  and  Kuryalus  the  first :  Kuryalus, 
distinguished  by  his  lovely  form  and  blooming  youth ; 
Nisus,  by  his  true  affection  for  the  boy  :  whom  next  Di- 
ores  followed,  a  royal  youth  of  Priam's  illustrious  line. 


B.v.  298-330. 


121 


After  him  Salius,  and  with  him  Patron ;  of  whom  the 
one  was  an  Acarnanian,  the  other  from  Arcadia,  of  the 
blood  of  the  Tegaean  race.    Next  two  Sicilian  youths, 
Klymiis  and  Panopes,  trained  to  the  woods,  the  compan- 
ions of  aged  Acestes ;  and  many  more  besides,  whom 
fame  hath  buried  in  obscurity.    In  the  midst  of  whom 
thus  ^neas  spoke  :    Mark  these  my  words,  and  attend 
with  joy  :  none  of  this  throng  shall  go  unrewarded  by 
me.    Two  bright  Gnossian  darts  of  polished  steel,  and  a 
carved  battle-axe  of  silver,  I  will  give  [each  man]  to  bear 
away.    This  honour  shall  be  conferred  equally  on  all. 
The  first  three  shall  receive  prizes,  and  shall  have  their 
heads  bound  with  swarthy  olive.    I^et  the  first  conqueror 
have  a  steed  adorned  with  rich  trappings  ;  the  second  an 
Amazonian  quiver  full  of  Thracian  arrows,  which  a  broad 
belt  of  gold  around  embraces,  and  a  buckle  clasps  with  a 
tapering  gem :  and  let  the  third  content  himself  with 
this  Grecian  helmet.    When  he  had  thus  said  they  take 
their  respective  places,  and  upon  hearing  the  signal,  start 
in  a  trice,  and  quit  the  barrier,  darting  forward  like  a 
tempest :  at  the  same  time  they  mark  the  goal.  Nisus 
gets  the  start,  and  springs  away  far  before  the  rest,  out- 
flying  the  winds  and  winged  lightning.    Next  to  him, 
but  next  by  a  long  interval,  follows  Salius :  then  after 
him  Kuryalus,  with  some  space  left  [between  them]  ;  and 
Klymus  follows  Euryalus ;  close  by  whose  side,  lo ! 
next  Diores  flies,  and  now  jostles  heel  with  heel,  press- 
ing on  his  shoulder;  and,  had  more  stages  remained, 
he  had  skipped  away  before  him,  or  left  the  victory 
dubious.    And  now  they  were  almost  in  the  utmost 
bound,  and,  exhausted,  were  approaching  towards  the 
very  goal;  when  unhappy  Nisus  slides  in  a  slippery 
puddle  of  blood,  as  by  chance  it  had  been  shed  on  the 
ground  from  victims  slain,  and  soaked  the  verdant  grass. 


122 


B.  V.  331-359. 


Here  the  youth,  aheady  flushed  with  the  joy  of  vic- 
tory, could  not  support  his  tottering  steps  on  the  ground 
he  trod,  but  fell  headlong  amidst  the  noisome  filth  and 
sacred  gore.     He,  however,  was  not  then  forgetful  of 
Buryalus,  nor  of  their  mutual  affection  ;  for,  as  he  rose 
from  the  slippery  mire,  he  opposed  himself  to  Salius  :  he 
again,  tumbling  backward,  lay  prostrate  on  the  clammy 
sand.    Buryalus  springs  forward,  and  victorious  by  the 
kindness  of  his  friend,  holds  the  foremost  place,  and  flies 
with  favouring  applause  and  acclamation.  Klymus  comes 
in  next ;  and  Diores,  now  [entitled  to]  the  third  prize. 
Here  Salius  fills  the  whole  assembly  of  the  ample  pit,  and 
the  front  seats  of  the  fathers,  with  loud  outcries,  and  de- 
mands the  prize  to  be  given  to  himself,  from  whom  it  was 
snatched  away  by  unfair  means.   The  favour  [of  the  spec- 
tators] befriends  Buryalus,  and  his  graceful  tears,  and 
merit  that  appears  more  lovely  in  a  comely  person. 
Diores  aids  him,  and  exclaims  with  bawling  voice  ;  who 
succeeded  to  a  prize,  and  had  a  claim  to  the  last  reward  in 
vain,  if  the  first  honours  be  given  to  Salius.    Then  father 
^neas  said  :  Your  rewards,  youths,  stand  fixed,  and  none 
shall  turn  the  prize  out  of  its  due  course  :  give  me  leave 
to  compassionate  the  disaster  of  my  innocent  friend. 
This  said,  he  gives  to  Salius  the  huge  hide  of  a  Getulian 
lion,  ponderous  with  shaggy  fur  and  gilt  claws.  Upon 
this  Nisus  says.  If  to  the  vanquished  such  rewards  be 
given,  and  your  pity  be  extended  to  those  that  fell,  what 
gifts  are  due  to  Nisus?  [to  me,]  who  by  my  merit  won 
the-  first  prize,  had  not  the  same  unkind  fortune  which 
bore  Salius  down  overpowered  me.     And  with  these 
words  he  at  the  same  time  showed  his  face  and  limbs 
besmeared  with  oozy  filth.    The  excellent  father  smiled 
on  his  plight,  and  ordered  the  buckler  to  be  produced 
Didymaon's  ingenious  work,  torn  down  by  the  Greeks 


B.  V.  36Q-390. 


123 


from  the  sacred  posts  of  Neptune's  temple.  With  this 
signal  present  he  rewards  the  illustrious  youth. 

Next,  when  the  race  was  finished,  and  the  prizes  were 
distributed  :  Now,  [says  he,]  whoever  he  may  be  in  whose 
breast  courage  and  resolution  dwell,  let  him  stand  forth, 
and  raise  aloft  his  arms,  having  his  hands  bound  [with  the 
cestus].  He  said,  and  proposes  a  double  prize  for  the 
combat:  to  the  conqueror  a  bullock  decked  with  gold 
and  fillets  ;  a  sword  and  shining  helm,  the  solace  of  the 
vanquished.  Without  delay,  Dares  shows  his  face  with 
strength  prodigious,  and  rears  himself  amidst  the  loud 
murmurs  of  the  spectators ;  he  who  alone  was  wont  to 
enter  the  lists  with  Paris  ;  the  same  at  the  tomb  where 
mighty  Hector  lies,  struck  down  victorious  Butes  of 
mighty  frame,  who  boasted  his  descent  from  the  race  of 
Amycus,  king  of  Bebrycia,  and  stretched  him  gasping  on 
the  tawny  sand.  Such  Dares  uprears  his  lofty  head  first 
in  the  lists,  and  presents  his  broad  shoulders,  and  in  alter- 
nate throws  brandishes  his  arms  around,  and  beats  the  air 
with  his  fists.-^or  him  a  match  is  sought ;  nor  dares  one 
of  all  that  numerous  crowd  encounter  him,  and  draw  the 
gauntlets  on  his  hands.  Elated,  therefore,  and  imagining 
that  all  had  quitted  pretension  to  the  prize,  he  stood 
before  Eneas'  feet:  and  then,  without  further  delay, 
with  his  left  hand  he  seizes  the  bull  by  the  horns,  and 
thus  speaks :  Goddess-born,  if  no  one  will  dare  to  trust 
himself  to  the  combat,  where  will  be  the  end  of  hanging 
on?  how  long  must  I  be  detained?  Order  the  presents 
to  be  brought.  At  the  same  time  all  the  Trojans  mur- 
mured their  consent,  and  ordered  the  promised  prizes  to 
be  delivered  to  him.  Then  venerable  Acestes  thus  chides 
Kntellus,  as  he  sat  beside  him  on  the  verdant  grassy 
couch  :  Bntelkis,  in  vain  [reputed]  the  stoutest  of  cham- 
pions once,  will  you  then  suffer  so  great  prizes  to  be 


124  ^NEID.  B  V.  391-420. 

carried  off  without  any  contest  ?    Where  is  now  that  god 
of  ours,  Kryx,  whom  you  in  vain  gave  out  to  be  your 
master  ?  where  is  y-our  fame  through  all  Trinacria  ?  where 
the  spoils  that  used  to  hang  from  your  roof?    He  to  this 
immediately  [replies]  :  It  is  not  that  my  thirst  of  praise 
is  gone,  or  my  glory  has  departed,  driven  away  by  fear : 
but  my  frozen  blood  languishes  through  enfeebling  age, 
and  the  strength  worn  out  in  my  body  is  benumbed. 
Did  I  but  now  enjoy  that  youth  which  once  I  had,  and 
wherein  that  varlet  triumphs  with  vain  confidence,  then 
would  I  have  taken  the  field  ;  not  indeed  induced  by 
the  prize  of  this  fair  bullock,  for  I  regard  not  rewards. 
Thus  having  spoken,  he  then  throws  into  the  midst  a 
pair  of  gauntlets  of  huge  weight ;   wherewith  fierce 
Bryx  was  wont  to  engage  in  the  fight,  and  to  brace  his 
arms  with  the  stubborn  hide.    Amazement  seized  their 
minds.    Seven  huge  thongs  of  such  vast  oxen  lay  stiffen- 
ing with  lead  and  iron  sewed  within.    Above  all  Dares 
himself  stands  aghast,  and  utterly  declines  the  combat : 
and  the  magnanimous  son  of  Anchises  this  way  and  that 
way  poises  the  weight  and  the  complicated  folds  of  the 
gauntlets.    Then  the  aged  champion  thus  spake  from  his 
soul :  What  if  any  [of  you]  had  seen  the  gauntlet  and 
arms  of  Hercules  himself,  and  the  bloody  combat  on  this 
very  shore  ?    These  arms  your  brother  Kryx  formerly 
wore.    You  see  them  yet  stained  with  blood  and  shat- 
tered brains.    With  these  he  stood  against  great  Alcides  : 
with  these  I  was  wont  [to  combat],  while  better  blood 
supplied  me  with  strength,  nor  envious  age  as  yet  had 
scattered  grey  hairs  over  my  temples.   But  if  Trojan  Dares 
decline  these  our  arms,  and  if  the  pious  ^neas  be  so 
determined,  and  Acestes,  who  prompts  me  [to  the  fight], 
approve,  let  us  be  equally  matched  :  To  oblige  you,  I  lay 
aside  the  weapons  of  Kryx ;  dismiss  your  fears,  and  do 


B.  V.  420-150. 


125 


you  put  off  your  Trojau  gauntlets.  This  said,  he  flung 
from  his  shoulders  his  double  vest,  and  bared  his  huge 
limbs,  his  big  bones  and  sinewy  arms,  and  stood  forth  of 
mighty  frame  in  the  middle  of  the  field.  Then  the  sire, 
sprung  from  Anchises,  brought  forth  equal  gauntlets,  and 
bound  both  their  hands  with  equal  arms.  Forthwith  each 
on  his  tiptoes  stood  erect,  and  undaunted  raised  his  arms 
aloft  in  the  air.  Far  from  the  blow  they  backward  with- 
drew their  towering  heads  :  now  hand  to  hand  they  join 
in  close  encounter,  and  provoke  the  fight ;  the  one  having 
the  advantage  in  agility  of  foot ,  and  relying  on  his  youth  ; 
the  other  surpassing  in  limbs  and  bulk  ;  but  his  feeble 
knees  sunk  under  his  trembling  body  :  his  difficult  breath- 
ing shakes  his  vast  frame.  The  heroes  deal  many  blows 
to  one  another  with  erring  aim,  and  many  on  the  hollow 
sides  redouble  ;  from  their,  breasts  [the  thumps]  resound 
aloud,  and  round  their  ears  and  temples  thick  strokes  at 
random  fly;  their  jaws  crackle  under  the  heavy  blow. 
^Kntellus  stands  stiff"  and  unmoved  in  the  same  firm  pos- 
'ture,  only  with  his  body  and  watchful  eyes  evades  the 
strokes.  The  other,  as  one  who  besieges  a  lofty  city  with 
batteries,  or  under  arms  besets  a  mountain  fortress,  ex- 
plores now  these,  now  those  approaches,  and  artfully 
traverses  the  whole  ground,  and  pursues  his  attack  with 
various  assaults,  still  baffled.  Bntellus,  rising  on  tiptoe, 
extended  his  right  arm,  and  lifted  it  on  high :  the  other 
nimbly  foresaw  the  blow  descending  from  above,  and 
with  agility  of  body  shifting,  slipped  from  under  it.  Bn- 
tellus spent  his  strength  on  the  wind ;  and,  both  by  the 
force  of  his  own  natural  weight,  and  the  violence  of  the 
motion,  falls  to  the  ground  of  himself  with  his  heavy 
bulk;  as  sometimes,  on  Frymanthtis  or  spacious  Ida,  a 
hollow  pine  torn  from  the  roots  tumbles  down  at  once. 
The  Trojan  and  Sicilian  youth  rise  together  with  eager 


1261 


V,  451-480. 


feelings  :  their  acclamations  pierce  the  skies  ;  and  Acestes 
first  advances  in  haste,  and  in  pity  raises  from  the  ground 
his  friend  of  equal  age.  But  the  hero,  not  disabled  nor 
daunted  by  his  fall,  returns  to  the  combat  more  fierce, 
and  indignation  rouses  his  spirit :  then  shame  and  con- 
scious worth  set  all  the  powers  of  his  soul  on  fire ;  and 
inflamed  he  drives  Dares  headlong  over  the  whole  plain, 
redoubling  blows  on  blows,  sometimes  with  the  right  hand, 
sometimes  with  the  left.  No  stop,  no  stay :  as  thick 
showers  of  hail  come  rattling  down  on  the  house-tops,  so 
with  thick  repeated  blows,  the  hero  thumps  Dares  with 
each  hand,  and  tosses  him  hither  and  thither.  Then 
father  ^neas  suffered  not  their  fury  longer  to  exert 
itself,  nor  Kntellus  to  rage  with  such  fierce  animosity  ; 
but  put  an  end  to  the  combat,  and  rescued  Dares  quite 
overpowered,  soothing  him  with  words,  and  bespeaks 
him  in  these  terms :  Unhappy !  what  strong  infatuation 
possessed  your  mind?  Are  you  not  sensible  of  [his  hav-, 
ing]  foreign  assistance,  and  that  the  gods  have  changed 
sides  ?  Yield  to  the  deity.  He  said,  and  by  his  word  put 
an  end  to  the  combat.  As  for  Dares,  his  trusty  compan- 
ions conduct  him  to  the  ships,  dragging  his  feeble  limbs, 
and  tossing  his  head  to  either  side,  disgorging  from  his 
throat  clotted  gore,  and  teeth  mingled  with  his  blood  ; 
and,  at  ^neas'  call,  they  take  the  helmet  and  sword,  leave 
the  palm  and  bull  to  Kntellus.  At  this  the  conqueror,  in 
soul  elated,  and  proud  of  the  bull,  says :  Goddess-born, 
and  ye  Trojans,  hence  know  both  what  strength  I  have 
had  in  my  youthful  limbs,  and  from  what  death  you  have 
saved  Dares.  He  said,  and  stood  against  the  front  of  the 
opposite  bull  that  was  set  for  the  prize  of  the  combat,  and 
rearing  himself  up,  with  his  right  hand  drawn  back, 
levelled  the  cruel  gauntlets  directly  between  the  horns, 
and,  battering  the  skull,  drove  through  the  bones.  Down 


B.  V.  481-512. 


127 


drops  the  ox,  and,  in  the  pangs  of  death,  falls  sprawling 
to  the  ground.  Over  him  he  utters  these  words :  This 
life,  more  acceptable,  O  Bryx,  I  give  thee  in  exchange 
for  Dares'  death ;  here,  victorious,  I  lay  down  the  gaunt- 
le^ts  with  my  art. 

^neas  forthwith  invites  such  as  may  be  willing  to  try 
their  skill  with  the  swift  arrow,  and  sets  prizes  :  and  with 
his  mighty  hand  raises  a  mast  taken  from  Serestus'  ship, 
and  from  the  high  mast  hangs  a  fluttering  dove  by  a  rope 
thrust  through  at  which  they  may  aim  their  shafts.  The 
competitors  assemble  ;  and  a  brazen  helmet  received  the 
shuffled  lots.  The  lot  of  Hippocoon,  the  son  of  Hyrtacus, 
comes  out  first  of  all  with  favouring  shouts  ;  whom  follows 
Mnestheus,  lately  victor  in  the  naval  strife,  Mnestheus, 
crowned  with  green  olive.  The  third  is  Kurytion,  the 
brother,  illustrious  Pandarus,  of  thee,  who,  once  urged  to 
violate  the  treaty,  didst  first  hurl  thy  dart  into  the  midst 
of  the  Greeks.  Acestes  remained  the  last,  and  in  the  bot- 
tom of  the  helmet ;  he  too  adventuring  with  his  [aged] 
hand  to  essay  the  feats  of  youth.  Then  with  stout  force 
they  bend  their  pliant  bows,  each  man  according  to  his 
ability,  and  draw  forth  their  arrows  from  their  quivers. 
And  first  the  arrow  of  young  Hyrtacus'  son,  shot  through 
the  sky  from  the  whizzing  string,  cleaves  the  fleeting  air, 
both  reaches  [the  mark],  and  fixes  in  the  wood  of  the 
opposite  mast.  The  mast  quivered  ;  and  the  frighted  bird, 
by  its  wings,  showed  signs  of  fear  ;  and  all  quarters  rang 
with  loud  applause.  Next  keen  Mnestheus  stood  with  his 
bow  close  drawn,  aiming  on  high,  and  directed  his  eye 
and  arrow  both  together.  But  it  was  his  misfortune  not 
to  be  able  to  hit  the  bird  itself  with  his  shaft ;  he  burst 
the  cords  and  hempen  ligaments  to  which  it  hung  tied  by 
the  foot  from  the  high  mast.  She  with  winged  speed  shot 
into  the  air  and  dusky  clouds.  Then  Eurytion  in  eager 
6« 


128 


B.  Vc  513-544 


haste,  having  his  arrow  long  before  extended  on  the  ready 
bow,  poured  forth  a  vow  to  his  brother  [Pandanis] ,  as  he 
now  beheld  the  joyful  dove  in  the  void  sky,  and  pierced 
her  under  a  dark  cloud  as  she  was  clapping  her  wings. 
She  dropped  down  dead,  and  left  her  life  among  the  stars 
of  heaven ;  and,  falling  to  the  ground;  brings  back  tha 
arrow  fastened  [in  the  wound],  Acestes  alone  remained 
after  the  prize  was  lost ;  who,  notwithstanding,  discharged 
his  shaft  into  the  aerial  regions,  the  sire  displaying  both 
his  address  and  twanging  bow.  Here  is  unexpectedly 
presented  to  view  a  prodigy,  designed  to  be  of  high  por- 
tent ;  this  the  important  event  afterwards  declared,  and 
the  alarming  soothsayers  predicted  the  omens  late.  For 
the  arrow,  flying  among  the  watery  clouds,  took  fire,  and 
with  the  flames  marked  out  a  path,  till,  being  quite  con- 
sumed, it  vanished  into  thin  air  ;  as  often  stars  loosened 
from  the  firmament  shoot  across,  and  flying  draw  [after 
them]  a  train  of  light.  The  Sicilians  and  Trojans  stood 
fixed  in  astonishment,  and  besought  the  gods  ;  nor  does 
mighty  ^neas  reject  the  omen,  but,  embracing  Acestes 
overjoyed,  loads  him  with  ample  rewards,  and  thus  be- 
speaks him :  Accept  these,  O  sire,  for  the  great  king  of 
heaven,  by  these  omens,  has  signified  his  will,  that  you 
receive  the  honour  [of  the  victory,  though]  out  of  course. 
This  gift,  which  belonged  to  aged  Anchises'  self,  you  shall 
possess ;  a  bowl  embossed  with  figures,  which  Thracian 
Cisseus  formerly  gave  for  a  magnificent  present  to  my 
sire,  as  a  monument  and  pledge  of  his  love.  This  said, 
he  crowns  his  temples  with  verdant  laurel,  and  in  view  of 
all  pronounces  Acestes  the  first  conqueror.  Nor  does 
good  Kurytion  envy  him  the  preference  in  honour,  though 
he  alone  struck  down  the  bird  from  the  exalted  sky.  He 
next  comes  in  for  a  prize,  who  broke  the  cords  ;  the  la^t 
is  he  who  pierced  the  mast  with  his  winged  shaft. 


B.  V.  545-576. 


12S 


But  father  ^neas,  the  games  not  bemg  yet  ended,  calls 
to  him  the  son  of  Bpytus,  young  lulus'  guardian  and  com- 
panion, and  thus  whispers  in  his  trusty  ear  :  Go  quick,  says 
he,  desire  Ascanius  (if  he  has  now  gotten  ready  with  him  his 
company  of  boys,  and  has  arranged  the  movements  of  the 
horses)  to  bring  up  his  troops,  and  show  himself  in  arms 
in  honour  of  his  grandsire.  He  himself  orders  the  crowd 
to  remove  from  the  extended  circus,  and  the  field  to  be 
cleared.  The  boys  advance  in  procession,  and  uniformly 
shine  on  the  bridled  steeds  full  in  their  parents'  sight ;  in 
admiration  of  whom,  as  they  career  along,  the  whole  Trojan 
and  Trinacrian  youth  join  in  acclamations.  All  in  due 
form  had  their  hair  pressed  with  a  trim  garland.  They 
bear  two  cornel  spears  pointed  with  steel ;  some  have 
polished  quivers  on  their  shoulders.  A  pliant  circle  of 
wreathed  gold  goes  from  the  upper  part  of  their  breasts 
about  their  necks.  Three  troops  of  horsemen,  and  three 
leaders,  range  over  the  plain  :  twelve  striplings  following 
each,  shine  in  a  separate  body,  and  with  commanders 
equally  matched.  One  band  of  youths  young  Priam, 
bearing  his  grandsire's  name,  leads  triumphant ;  thy 
illustrious  offspring,  O  Polites,  who  shall  one  day  do 
honour  to  the  Italians,  whom  a  Thracian  courser  bears, 
dappled  with  white  spots ;  the  fetlocks  of  his  foremost 
feet  are  white,  and,  tossing  his  head  aloft,  he  displays  a 
white  front.  The  second  is  Atys,  from  whom  the  Attii  of 
Rome  have  derived  their  origin  ;  little  Atys,  a  boy  be- 
loved by  the  boy  liilus.  liilus  the  last,  and  in  beauty  dis- 
tinguished from  all  the  rest,  rode  on  a  Sidonian  steeJ 
which  fair  Dido  had  given  him  as  a  monument  and  pledge 
of  her  love.  The  rest  of  the  youths  ride  on  Trinacrian 
horses  of  aged  Acestes.  The  Trojans  with  shouts  of  ap- 
plause receive  them  anxious  [for  honour] ,  and  are  well- 
pleased  with  the  sight,  and  recognise  the  features  of  the 


130 


B.  V  577-602. 


aged  sires.  Now  when  the  joyous  youths  had  paraded  on 
horseback  round  the  whole  ring,  and  full  in  their  parents' 
view,  Kpyttis'  son,  from  afar,  gave  a  signal  to  them  by  a 
shout,  as  they  stood  ready,  and  clanked  with  the  lash. 
They  broke  away  in  parted  order,  keeping  the  same 
front,  and  broke  up  the  troops  into  separate  bands  by 
threes ;  and  again,  upon  summons  given,  they  wheeled 
about,  and  bore  their  hostile  spears  [on  one  another]. 
Then  they  again  advance,  and  again  retreat  in  their  oppo- 
site grounds,  and  alternately  involve  intricate  circles 
within  circles,  and  call  up  the  representation  of  a  fight  in 
arms.  And  now  flying  they  expose  their  defenceless 
backs  ;  now  in  hostile  manner  turn  their  darts  [on  each 
other]  :  now,  peace  being  made  up,  they  are  borne  along 
together.  As  of  old  in  lofty  Crete  was  a  labyrinth  famed 
for  having  had  an  alley  formed  by  dark  intricate  walls, 
and  a  puzzling  maze  with  a  thousand  avenues,  where  a 
[single]  mistake,  unobserved,  but  not  to  be  retraced, 
frustrated  the  marks  for  guiding  one  on  the  way  ;  in  just 
such  course  the  sons  of  the  Trojans  involve  their  motions, 
and  with  intricate  movement  represent  fighting  and  fly- 
ing in  sport ;  like  dolphins,  that,  swimming  through 
the  watery  deep,  cut  the  Carpathian  or  Ivibyan  Sea,  and 
gambol  amid  the  waves.  This  manner  of  tilting,  and 
those  mock  fights,  Ascanius  first  renewed,  and  taught  the 
ancient  Latins  to  celebrate,  when  he  was  enclosing  Alba 
Tonga  with  walls :  as  he  himself,  when  a  boy,  as  the 
Trojan  youth  with  him  [had  practised  them],  so  the 
Albans  taught  their  posterity  ;  hence,  in  after  times,  im- 
perial Rome  received  them,  and  preserved  the  same  in 
honour  of  her  ancestors  :  and  at  this  day  it  is  called  [the 
game  of]  Troy,  and  the  boys  [that  perform  it],  the  Trojan 
band. 


B.  v.  603-631. 


131 


Thus  far  the  trials  of  skill  were  exhibited  [by  ^neas  in 
honour]  of  his  sanctified  sire.  Here  shifting  Fortune, 
changing,  first  altered  her  faith.  While  they  are  celebrat- 
ing the  anniversary  festival  at  the  tomb  with  various  games, 
Saturnian  Juno  despatched  Iris  from  heaven  to  the  Trojan 
fleet,  and  with  the  fanning  winds  speeds  her  on  her  way, 
forming  many  plots,  and  having  not  yet  glutted  her  old 
revenge.  The  virgin  goddess  accelerating  her  way,  seen 
by  none,  amidst  the  bow  with  a  thousand  colours,  shoots 
down  the  path  with  nimble  motion.  She  descries  the  vast 
concourse ;  then  surveying  the  shore,  sees  the  port  de- 
serted, and  the  fleet  deserted.  But  at  a  distance  the  Tro^ 
jan  dames  apart  were  mourning  the  loss  of  Anchises  on 
the  desolate  shore,  and  all  of  them  with  tears  in  their  eyea 
viewed  the  deep  ocean  :  Ah  !  that  so  many  shoals,  such  a 
length  of  sea  should  still  remain  for  us  after  all  our  toils  ! 
was  the  sole  complaint  of  all.  They  pray  for  a  city,  are 
sick  of  enduring  the  hardships  of  the  main.  Therefore 
she,  not  unpractised  in  mischief,  throws  herself  into  the 
midst  of  them,  and  lays  aside  the  mien  and  vesture  of 
a  goddess.  She  assumes  the  figure  of  Beroe,  the  aged 
wife  of  Thracian  Doryclus,  who  was  of  noble  birth,  and 
once  had  renown,  and  offspring.  And  thus  she  joins  in 
discourse  with  the  Trojan  matrons :  Ah  !  unhappy  we,  who 
were  not  dragged  forth  to  death  in  the  war  by  the  Grecian 
host  under  our  native  walls  !  Ill-fated  race !  for  what  mi-.- 
erable  doom  does  fortune  reserve  you?  The  seventh  sum- 
mer since  the  destruction  of  Troy  is  already  rolled  away, 
while  we,  having  measured  all  lands  and  seas,  so  many 
inhospitable  rocks  and  barbarous  climes,  are  driven  about ; 
while  along  the  wide  ocean  we  pursue  an  ever-fleeing 
Italy,  and  are  tossed  on  the  waves.  Here  are  the  realms 
of  his  brother  Kryx,  and  his  friend  Acestes :  who  prevents 
our  founding  walls,  and  giving  our  citizens  a  city?  Ah, 


132 


B.  V.  632-662. 


my  country,  and  our  gods  in  vain  saved  from  the  enemy ! 
shall  a  city  never  more  rise  to  be  named  from  Troy  ?  Shall  I 
never  see  the  Hectorean  rivers,  Xanthus  and  Simois  ?  Nay, 
rather  come,  and  burn  with  me  our  cursed  ships.  For  in  my 
sleep  the  ghost  of  the  prophetess  Cassandra  seems  to  pre- 
sent me  with  flaming  brands :  Here,  says  she,  seek  for 
Troy,  here  is  your  fixed  residence.  Now  is  the  time  for 
action.  Nor  let  there  be  delay  after  such  signs  from 
heaven.  I^o !  here  are  four  altars  to  Neptune :  the  god 
himself  supplies  us  with  fire-brands,  and  with  courage 
[for  the  attempt].  With  these  words,  she  violently 
snatches  the  destroying  fire,  and,  lifting  up  her  right 
hand  with  exerted  force,  waves  it  at  a  distance,  throws  it. 
Roused  are  the  minds  and  stunned  the  hearts  of  the  Tro- 
jan matrons.  Then  one  of  the  number,  Pyrgo,  the  most 
advanced  in  years,  the  royal  nurse  to  Priam's  numerous 
sons,  [said,]  Matrons,  this  is  not  Beroe  whom  you  have 
here,  it  is  not  she  from  Rhseteum,  the  wife  of  Doryclus : 
mark  the  characters  of  divine  beauty,  eyes  bright  and 
sparkling ;  what  breath,  what  looks  ;  or  the  accents  of  her 
voice,  or  her  gait  as  she  moves.  Myself  lately,  as  I  came 
hither,  left  Beroe  sick,  in  great  anguish  that  she- alone  was 
cut  off  from  such  a  solemnity,  and  was  not  to  pay  the 
honours  due  to  Anchises.  She  said.  But  the  matrons  first 
began  to  view  the  ships  with  malignant  eyes,  dubious  and 
wavering  between  their  wretched  fondness  for  the  present 
land,  and  the  realms  that  summoned  them  by  the  Fates ; 
when  on  equal  poised  wings  the  goddes  mounted  into  the 
sky,  and  in  her  flight  cut  the  spacious  bow  beneath  the 
clouds.  Then,  indeed,  confounded  at  the  prodigy,  and 
driven  by  madness,  they  shriek  out  together,  and  snatch 
the  flame  from  the  inmost  hearths.  Some  rifle  the  altars 
and  fling  boughs,  and  saplings,  and  brands  together ;  the 
conflagration  rages  with  loose  reins  amidst  the  rowers* 


B.  V.  663-692. 


133 


seats,  and  oars,  and  painted  sterns  of  fir.  Eumelus  con- 
veys the  tidings  to  Anchises'  tomb,  and  to  the  benches 
of  the  theatre,  that  the  ships  were  burned  ;  and  they  them- 
selves  behold  the  sparks  of  fire  flying  tip  in  a  pitchy  cloud. 
And  first,  Aschanius,  as  joyous  he  led  the  cavalcade,  just 
as  he  was,  with  full  speed  rode  up  to  the  troubled  camp; 
nor  was  it  in  the  power  of  his  guardians,  half-dead  for  fear, 
to  check  him.  What  strange  frenzy  this  ?  whither,  he 
cries,  ah!  my  wretched  coim  try  women,  whither  would 
you  now?  It  Id  not  the  enemy,  or  the  hostile  camp  of  the 
Greeks,  but  your  own  hopes  ye  burn.  Here  am  I,  your 
own  Ascanius.  He  threw  at  their  feet  the  empty  helmet, 
which  he  wore  while  calling  forth  the  images  of  war  in 
sport.  At  the  same  time  ^neas  and  the  bands  of  the 
Trojans  came  up  in  haste.  But  the  matrons  for  fear  fly 
difl'erent  ways  up  and  down  the  shore,  and  skulking  re- 
pair to  the  woods  and  hollow  rocks  wherever  there  are 
any.  They  loathe  the  deed,  the  light,  and  penitent  rec- 
ognise their  friends ;  and  Juno  is  dislodged  from  their 
breasts.  But  the  flames  and  conflagration  did  not  there- 
y  'fore  abate  their  ungovernable  fury.  The  tow  lives  under 
[j  the  moistened  boards,  disgorging  languid  smoke ;  the 
smothered  fire  gradually  consumes  the  keel,  and  the  con- 
tagious ruin  spreads  through  the  whole  body  of  the  vessel. 
Neither  the  efforts  of  the  heroes,  nor  outpoured  streams, 
avail.  Then  pious  ^neas  tore  his  robe  from  his  shoulders, 
^nd  invoked  the  gods  to  his  aid,  and  stretched  out  his 
hands :  Almighty  Jove,  if  thou  dost  not  yet  abhor  all  the 
Trojans  to  a  man,  if  thy  ancient  goodness  regards  human 
disasters  with  commiseration,  grant  now,  O  father,  that  our 
fleet  may  escape  from  these  flames,  and  save  from  desola- 
tion the  humbled  state  of  the  Trojans.  Or,  to  complete  thy 
vengeance,  hurl  me  down  to  the  death  with  thy  vindictive 
thunder,  if  I  so  deserve,  and  crush  me  here  with  thy  right 


134 


B.  V.  693-720. 


hand.  Scarce  had  he  spoken  these  words,  when  a  black 
tempest  of  bursting  rain  rages  with  uncommon  fury:  both 
hills  and  valleys  quake  with  thunder ;  the  shower  in  tur- 
bid rain,  and  condensed  into  pitchy  darkness  by  the  thick- 
beating  south  winds,  pours  down  from  the  whole  atmos 
phere.  The  ships  are  filled  from  above  ;  the  half-burned 
boards  are  drenched,  till  the  whole  smoke  is  extinguished, 
and  all  the  ships,  with  the  loss  of  four,  are  saved  from  the 
pest. 

But  father  ^neas,  struck  with  the  bitter  misfortune, 
turned  his  anxious  thoughts  now  this  way,  now  that, 
pondering  with  himself  whether  he  should  settle  in  the 
territories  of  Sicily,  regardless  of  the  Fates,  or  steer  his 
course  to  the  Italian  coast.  Then  aged  Nautes,  whom 
above  others  Tritonian  Pallas  taught,  and  rendered  illus- 
trious for  deep  science,  gave  forth  these  responses,  what 
either  the  great  displeasure  of  the  gods  portended,  or 
what  the  series  of  the  Fates  required.  And  thus,  solac- 
ing ^neas,  he  begins  :  Goddess-born,  let  us  follow  the 
Fates,  whether  they  invite  us  backward  or  forward  ;  come 
what  will,  every  fortune  is  to  be  surmounted  by  patience. 
You  have  Trojan  Acestes  of  divine  origin :  admit  him 
the  partner  of  your  counsels,  and  unite  yourself  to  him 
your  willing  friend  :  to  him  deliver  up  such  as  are  super- 
numerary, now  that  you  have  lost  some  ships ;  choose 
out  those  who  are  sick  of  the  great  enterprise,  and  o.^ 
your  fortunes ;  the  old  with  length  of  years  oppressed^ 
end  the  matrons  fatigued  with  the  voyage;  select  the 
»leebie  part  of  your  company,  and  such  as  dread  the  dan^ 
/jer,  and,  since  they  are  tired  out,  let  them  have  a  settle- 
ment in  these  territories  :  they  shall  call  the  city  Acesta 
by  a  licensed  name. 

Then  indeed  ^neas,  fired  by  these  words  of  his  aged 
friend,  is  distracted  in  his  mind  amidst  a  thousand  cares. 


B.  V  721-750. 


135 


Now  sable  Night,  mounted  on  her  chariot  with  two 
horses,  held  the  skies,  when  the  form  of  his  father  An- 
chises,  gliding  down  from  the  skies,  suddenly  seemed  to 
pour  forth  these  words :  Son,  once  dearer  to  me  than 
life,  while  life  remained  ;  my  vSon,  severely  tried  by  the 
•ates  of  Troy  ;  hither  I  come  by  the  command  of  Jove, 
who  averted  the  fire  from  your  fleet,  and  at  length  showed 
pity  from  the  high  heaven.  Comply  with  the  excellent 
counsel  which  aged  Nautes  now  offers  :  carry  with  3  on  to 
Italy  the  choice  of  the  youths,  the  stoutest  hearts.  In 
Ivatium  you  have  to  subdue  a  hardy  race,  rugged  in  man- 
ners. But  first,  my  son,  visit  Pluto's  infernal  mansion, 
and,  in  quest  of  an  interview  with  me,  cross  the  deep 
floods  of  Avernus  :  for  not  accursed  Tartarus,  nor  the 
dreary  ghosts,  have  me  in  their  possession  ;  but  I  inhabit 
the  delightful  seats  of  the  blest,  and  Elysium.  Hither  the 
chaste  Sibyl  shall  conduct  thee  after  shedding  profusely 
the  blood  of  black  victims.  Then  you  shall  learn  your 
whole  progeny,  and  what  walls  are  assigned  to  you.  And 
now  farewell :  humid  Night  wheels  about  her  mid  course, 
and  the  dawning  light,  which  fiercely  summons  me 
away,  hath  breathed  upon  me  with  panting  steeds.  He 
said;  and  vanished  like  smoke  into  the  fleeting  air. 
Whither  so  precipitant?  says  then  ^neas ;  whither  dost 
thou  whirl  away  K whom  fliest  thou?  or  who  debars  me 
from  my  embraces?  So  saying,  he  awakes  the  embers 
and  dormant  fire,  and  suppliant  pays  veneration  to  his 
Trojan  domestic  god,  and  the  shrine  of  hoary  Vesta,  with 
a  holy  cake  and  full  censer.  Forthwith  he  calls  his  fol-  . 
lowers,  and  first  of  all  Acestes,  and  informs  them  of 
Jove's  command,  and  the  instructions  of  his  beloved  sire, 
and  of  the  present  settled  purpose  of  his  soul.  No  ob- 
struction is  given  to  his  plans ;  nor  is  Acestes  averse  to  the 
proposals  made.    They  enrol  the  matrons  for  the  city.^ 


136 


B.\.  750-778. 


and  set  on  shore  as  many  of  the  people  as  were  willing, 
souls  that  had  no  desire  of  high  renown.  Themselves 
renew  the  benches,  and  repair  the  timbers  half  con- 
sumed by  the  flames ;  fit  oars  and  cables  to  the  ships  ;  in 
number  small,  but  of  animated  valour  for  war. 

Meanwhile  -^neas  marked  out  a  city  with  the  plough, 
and  assigns  the  houses  by  lot :  here  he  orders  a  [second] 
Ilium  to  arise,  and  these  places  to  be  called  after  those  of 
Troy.  Trojan  Acestes  rejoices  in  his  kingdom  ;  institutes 
a  court  of  justice ;  and  having  assembled  his  senators, 
dispenses  laws.  Then  on  the  top  of  Mount  Kryx  a  tem- 
ple approaching  the  stars  is  raised  to  Idalian  Venus  ;  and 
a  priest  is  assigned  to  the  tomb  of  Anchises,  with  a  grove 
hallowed  far  and  wide.  And  now  the  whole  people  had 
kept  the  festival  for  nine  days,  and  sacrifices  had  been 
offered  on  the  altars,  peaceful  breezes  have  smoothed  the 
seas,  and  the  south  wind  in  repeated  gales  invites  into  the 
deep.  Loud  lamentations  along  the  winding  shores  arise : 
in  mutual  embraces  they  linger  out  both  night  and  day. 
Even  the  matrons,  and  those  to  whom  the  face  of  the  sea 
lately  seemed  horrid,  and  its  divinity  intolerably  severe, 
would  willingly  go,  and  submit  to  all  the  toil  of  the  voy- 
age ;  whom  good  ^neas  solaces  in  friendly  terms,  and, 
weeping,  commends  to  his  kinsman  Acestes.  Then  he 
orders  to  sacrifice  to  Bryx  three  calves,  and  a  female  lamb 
to  the  tempests,  and  to  weigh  anchor  after  the  due  rites 
were  performed.  He  himself,  having  his  head  bound 
with  a  trim  garland  of  olive  leaves,  standing  on  the  ex- 
tremity of  the  prow,  holds  the  cup  and  casts  forth  the 
entrails  on  the  briny  waves,  and  pours  the  limpid  wine. 
A  wind  arising  from  the  stern  accompanies  them  in  their 
course.  The  crew,  with  emulous  vigour,  lash  the  sea  and 
brush  its  smooth  Surface. 


».Y.  779-810.  ^NKID. 

^JjVIeanwhile  Venus,  harassed  with  cares,  addresses  Nep- 
V  tJiiiie,  and  pours  forth  these  complaints  from  her  breast : 
The  heavy  resentment  and  insatiable  passion  of  Juno 
compel  me,  O  Neptune,  to  descend  to  all  entreaties ; 
Juno,  whom  neither  length  of  time  or  any  piety  softens ; 
and  who  is  not  quelled  and  subdued  even  by  Jove's  im- 
perial sway,  or  by  the  Fates.  It  is  not  enough  for  her  to 
have  effaced  the  city  from  among  the  Phrygian  race  by 
h^r  unhallowed  hate,  nor  to  have  dragged  its  relics  through 
all  sorts  of  suffering  ;  she  persecutes  the  ashes  and  bones 
of  ruined  Troy.  The  causes  of  such  furious  resentment 
are  to  her  best  known.  Yourself  can  witness  for  me  what 
a  heaving  tempest  she  suddenly  raised  of  late  on  the  Lib- 
yan waves.  The  whole  sea  she  blended  in  confusion  with 
the  sky,  vainly  relying  on  joins'  storms  ;  this  presuming 
[even]  in  your  realms,  ho  also  (O  wickedness  !)  by  acting 
upon  the  Trojan  matrons,  she  hath  shamefully  burned 
the  ships,  and  forced  their  friends,  now  that  they  have 
lost  their  fleet,  to  abandon  them  in  an  unknown  land. 
As  to  what  remains,  may  they  be  allowed,  I  pray,  to  sail 
over  the  waves  secure  by  thy  protection :  may  they  be 
allowed  to  reach  Laurentian  Tiber  ;  if  I  ask  what  may  be 
granted,  if  the  Destinies  assign  those  settlements.  Then 
the  Saturnian  ruler  of  the  deep  ocean  thus  replied: 
Cytherea,  it  is  perfectly  just  that  you  confide  in  my  realms, 
whence  you  derive  your  birth :  besides,  I  have  a  just 
claim  ;  [for]  often  have  I  checked  the  furious  rage  and 
maddening  tumult  of  sea  and  sky  Nor  was  I  less  careful 
jf  your  ^neas  on  earth  (I  call  Xanthus  and  Simois  to 
witness).  When  Achilles,  pursuing  the  breathless  troops 
-^f  Troy,  dashed  them  against  their  walls,  gave  many 
thousands  to  death,  and  the  choked  rivers  groaned,  and 
Xanthus  could  not  find  his  way,  nor  disembogue  himself 
into  the  sea ;  then  in  a  hollow  cloud  I  snatched  away 


138 


B.  V.  809-839. 


^neas,  while  encountering  the  mighty  Achiiles  wiji 
strength  and  gods  unequal ;  though  I  was  desirous  of 
overthrowing  from  the  lowest  foundation  the  walls  of  per- 
jured Troy,  reared  by  my  hands.  And  still  I  am  of  the 
same  disposition  :  banish  your  fear  ;  he  shall  arrive  safe 
at  the  port  of  Avernus,  which  you  desire.  One  only,  lost 
in  the  deep,  shall  he  seek  for  :  one  life  shall  be  given  for 
many.  The  sire,  having  by  these  words  soothed  and 
cheered  the  heart  of  the  goddess,  yokes  his  steeds  to  his 
golden  car,  puts  the  foaming  bit  into  their  fierce  mouths, 
and  throws  out  all  the  reins.  Along  the  surface  of  the 
seas  he  nimbly  glides  in  his  azure  car.  The  waves  sub- 
side, and  the  swelling  ocean  smooths  its  liquid  pave- 
ment under  the  thundering  axle :  the  clouds  fly  off  the 
face  of  the  expanded  sky.  Then  [appear]  the  various 
forms  of  his  retinue,  unwieldy  whales,  and  the  aged  train 
of  Glaucus,  and  Palemon,  Ino's  son,  the  swift  Tritons, 
and  the  whole  band  of  Phorcus.  On  the  left  are  Thetis, 
Melite,  and  the  virgin  Panopae,  Nessee,  Spio,  Thalia,  and 
Cymodoce.  Upon  this,  soft  joys  in  their  turn  diffuse 
themselves  through  the  anxious  soul  of  father  ^neas. 
Forthwith  he  orders  all  the  masts  to  be  set  up,  and  the 
yards  to  be  stretched  along  the  sails.  At  once  they  all 
tacked  together,  and  together  let  go  sometimes  the  left- 
hand  sheets,  sometimes  the  right :  at  once  they  turn  and 
turn  back  the  lofty  end  of  the  sail-yards :  friendly  gales 
waft  the  fleet  forward.  Palinurus,  the  master-pilot,  led 
the  closely-united  squadron :  towards  him  the  rest  were 
ordered  to  steer  their  course. 

And  now  the  dewy  night  had  almost  reached  the  mid- 
dle of  her  course  ;  the  weary  sailors,  stretched  along  the 
hard  benches  under  the  oars,  relaxed  their  limbs  in 
peaceful  repose ;  when  the  god  of  sleep,  gliding  down 
from  the  ethereal  stars,  parted  the  dusky  air,  and  dis* 


8.  V.  810-867. 


139 


pelled  the  shades;  to  you,  O  Palinurus,  directing  his 
course,  visiting  you,  though  innocent,  with  dismal 
dreams :  and  the  god  took  his  seat  on  the  lofty  stern,  in 
the  similitude  of  Phorbas,  and  poured  forth  these  words 
from  his  lips :  Palinurus,  son  of  lasius,  the  seas  them- 
selves carry  forward  the  fleet ;  the  gales  blow  fair  and 
steady,  the  hour  for  rest  is  given.  Recline  your  head, 
and  steal  your  weary  eyes  from  labour.  Myself  awhile 
will  discharge  your  duty.  To  whom  Palinurus,  with  dif- 
ficulty lifting  up  his  eyes,  answers  :  Do  you  then  bid  me 
be  a  stranger  to  the  aspect  of  the  calm  sea  and  its  quiet 
waves  ?  Shall  I  confide  in  this  extraordinary  apparition  ? 
Why  should  I  trust  ^neas  to  the  mercy  of  the  fallacious 
winds,  after  having  been  so  often  deceived  by  the  treach- 
erous aspect  of  a  serene  sky?  These  words  he  uttered, 
while  fixed  and  clinging  he  did  not  part  with  the  rudder, 
and  held  his  eyes  directed  to  the  stars ;  when,  lo  !  the 
god  shakes  over  both  his  temples  a  branch  drenched  in 
the  dew  of  I^ethe,  and  impregnated  with  soporific  Stygian 
influence  ;  and,  while  he  is  struggling  against  sleep,  dis- 
solves his  swimming  eyes.  Scarcely  had  unexpected 
slumber  begun  to  relax  his  limbs,  when  the  god,  leaning 
on  him,  with  part  of  the  stern  broke  ofi",  together  with 
the  helm,  plunged  him  headlong  into  the  limpid  waves, 
often  calling  on  his  friends  in  vain  :  taking  flight,  raised 
himself  on  his  wings  aloft  into  the  thin  air.  Meanwhile, 
the  fleet  runs  its  watery  course  on  the  plain  with  equal 
security,  and  fearless  is  conducted  by  father  Neptune's 
promises.  And  now  wafted  forward,  it  was  even  coming 
up  to  the  rocks  of  the  Sirens,  once  of  difficult  access,  and 
white  with  the  bones  of  many  (at  that  time  the  hoarse 
rocks  resounded  far  by  the  continual  buffeting  of  the 
briny  waves)  ;  when  father  ^neas  perceived  the  fluctu- 
ating galley  to  reel,  having  lost  its  pilot ;  and  he  himself 


140 


J^NEID.         B.  V.  868-871.    b.  vi.  1-20. 


Steered  her  through  the  darkened  waves,  deeply  affected 
and  wounded  in  his  soul  for  the  misfortune  of  his  friend. 
Ah,  Palinurus,  [says  he],  who  has  too  much  confided  in 
the  fair  aspect  of  the  skies  and  sea  1  naked  wilt  thou  lie 
on  unknown  sands ! 


BOOK  VI. 

lu  the  Sixth  Book,  ^neas,  on  reaching  the  coast  of  Italy,  visits,  as  he  had 
been  forewarned,  the  Sybil  of  Cumse,  who  attends  him  in  his  descent  into 
the  infernal  regions,  and  conducts  him  to  his  father  Anchises,  from  whom 
he  learns  the  fate  that  awaited  him  and  his  descendants  the  Romans.  The 
book  closes  with  the  well-known  beautiful  panegyric  on  the  younger  Mar- 
cellus,  who  was  prematurely  cut  off  in  the  flower  of  his  youth. 

Thus  he  speaks  with  tears,  and  gives  his  ship  full  sail, 
and  at  length  he  reaches  the  Euboean  coast  of  Cumse. 
They  turn  their  prows  out  to  the  sea :  then  the  anchor 
with  its  tenacious  fluke  moored  the  ships,  and  the  bend- 
ing sterns  fringe  the  margin  of  the  shore.  The  youthful 
crew  spring  forth  with  ardour  on  the  Hesperian  strand : 
some  seek  for  the  seeds  of  fire  latent  in  the  veins  of  flint ; 
some  plunder  the  copses,  the  close  retreat  of  wild  beasts, 
and  point  out  rivers  newly  discovered.  But  the  pious 
^neas  repairs  to  the  towers  over  which  ApoUo  presides 
on  high,  and  to  the  spacious  cave,  the  cell  of  the  Sibyl 
awful  at  a  distance  ;  into  whom  the  prophetic  god  of  Delos 
breathes  an  enlarged  mind  and  spirit,  and  discloses  to  her 
the  future.  Now  they  enter  Diana's  groves,  and  [Apollo's] 
golden  roofs.  Daedalus,  as  is  famed,  flying  the  realms  of 
Minos,  adventuring  to  trust  himself  to  che  sky  on  nimble 
wings,  sailed  through  an  untried  path  to  the  cold  regions 
of  the  north,  and  at  length  gently  alighted  on  the  tower 
of  Chalcis.  Having  landed  first  on  those  coasts,  to  thee, 
O  Phoebus,  he  consecrated  his  hoary  wings,  and  reared  a 
spacious  temple.    On  the  gates  the  death  of  Androgeos 


'^B.  VI  21-49.  ^NKID.     ^  141 

[was  represented]  :  then  the  Athenians,  doomed,  as  an 
atonement  (a  piteous  case !)  to  pay  yearly  the  bodies  of 
their  children  by  sevens :  there  stands  the  urn  whence 
the  lots  w^ere  drawn.  In  counterview  answers  the  land  of 
Crete  raised  above  sea  ;  here  Pasiphae's  fierce  passion  for 
tie  bull  is  seen,  and  she  [is  introduced]  by  artifice  hum- 
bled [to  his  embrace],  with  the  Minotaur,  that  mingled 
birth,  and  two-formed  offsprings,  monuments  of  execrable 
lust.  Here  [are  seen]  the  laboured  work  of  the  Ivabyrinth, 
and  the  inextricable  mazes.  But  Daedalus,  pitying  the 
violent  love  of  queen  [Ariadne],  unravels  [to  Theseus] 
the  intricacies  and  windings  of  the  structure,  himself 
guiding  his  dark  mazy  steps  by  a  thread. -  You  too,  O 
Icarus,  should  have  borne  a  considerable  part  in  that  great 
work,  had  [thy  father's]  grief  permitted.  Twice  he  essayed 
to  figure  the  disastrous  story  in  gold  ;  twice  the  parent's 
hand  misgave  him.  And  now  [the  Trojans]  would  survey 
the  whole  w^ork  in  order,  were  not  Achates,  who  had  been 
sent  on,  just  at  hand,  and  with  him  the  priestess  of  Phoebus 
and  Diana,  Deiphobe,  Glaucus'  daughter,  who  thus  be- 
speaks the  king  :  This  hour  requires  not  such  amusements. 
At  present  it  will  be  more  suitable  to  sacrifice  seven  bul- 
locks from  a  herd  unyoked,  and  as  many  chosen  ewes, 
with  usual  rites.  The  priestess  having  thus  addressed 
^neas,  (nor  are  they  backward  to  obey  her  sacred  orders,) 
calls  the  Trojans  into  the  lofty  temple.  The  huge  side  of 
an  Buboean  rock  is  cut  out  into  a  cave,  whither  a  hundred 
broad  avenues  lead,  a  hundred  doors  ;  whence  rush  forth 
as  many  voices,  the  responses  of  the  Sibyl.  They  had 
come  to  the  threshold,  when  thus  the  virgin  exclaims : 
Now  is  the  time  to  consult  your  fate  :  the  god,  lo  the  god ! 
I  While  thus  before  the  gate  she  speaks,  on  a  sudden  her 
looks  change,  her  colour  comes  and  goes,  her  locks  are 
dishevelled,  her  breast  heaves,  and  her  fierce  heart  swells 


142 


^NKID. 


B.  VI.  49-77. 


with  enthusiastic  rage  ;  she  appears  in  a  larger  form,  her 
voice  speaking  her  not  a  mortal,  now  that  she  is  inspired 
with  the  nearer  influence  of  the  god.  Do  you  delay, 
Trojan  ^neas,  she  says,  do  you  delay  with  thy  vows  and 
prayers?  [Instantly  begin]  :  for  not  till  then  shall  the 
ample  gates  of  this  aw^e-s  trick  en  mansion  unfold  to  the 
view.  And  having  thus  said,  she  ceased.  Chill  horror 
ran  thrilling  cold  through  the  bones  of  the  Trojans  ;  and 
their  king  poured  forth  these  prayers  from  the  bottom  of 
his  heart :  Apollo,  who  hast  ever  pitied  the  troubles  of 
Troy,  who  guidedst  the  Trojan  darts  and  the  hand  of 
Paris  to  the  body  of  Achilles  ;  under  thy  conduct  I  have 
entered  so  many  seas  encompassing  countries,  and  the 
Massylian  nations  far  remote,  and  regions  vast  stretched 
in  front  by  the  Sertes.  Now  at  length  we  grasp  of  the 
coast  of  Italy  that  flies  from  us.  Let  it  suffice  that  the 
fortune  of  Troy  has  persecuted  us  thus  far.  Now  it  is  just 
that  you,  too,  spare  the  Trojan  race,  ye  gods  and  goddesses, 
all,  to  whom  Ilium  and  the  high  renown  of  Dardania  were 
obnoxious.  And  thou  too,  most  holy  prophetess,  skilled 
in  futurity,  grant  (I  ask  no  realms  but  what  are  destined 
to  me  by  fate)  that  the  Trojans,  their  wandering  gods,  and 
the  persecuted  deities  of  Troy,  may  eettle  in  Latium. 
Then  will  I  appoint  to  Phoebus  and  Diana  a  temple  of 
solid  marble,  and  festal  days,  called  by  the  name  of  ApoUo. 
Thee,  too,  a  spacious  sanctuary  awaits  in  our  realms ;  for 
there,  benignant  one,  I  will  deposit  thy  oracles,  and  the 
secret  fates  declared  to  my  nation,  and  will  consecrate 
chosen  men.  Only  commit  not  thy  verses  to  leaves,  lest 
they  fly  about  in  disorder,  the  sport  of  the  rapid  winds  : 
1  beg  3^ou  yourself  will  pronounce  them.  He  ended  his 
address. 

But  the  prophetess,  as  yet  not  sufl"ering  the  influence 
of  Phoebus,  raves  with  wild  outrage  in  the  cave,  Strug- 


B.  VI.  78-106. 


gling  if  possible  to  disburden  her  soul  of  the  mighty  god  ; 
so  much  the  more  he  wearies  her  foaming  lips,  subduing 
her  ferocious  heart,  and,  by  bearing  down  her  opposition, 
moulds  her  to  his  will.    And  now  the  hundred  spacious 
.gates  of  the  abode  were  opened  of  their  own  accord,  and 
'pour  forth  the  responses  of  the  prophetess  into  the  open 
air  :  O  thou  who  hast  at  length  overpassed  the  Vast  perils 
of  the  ocean  !  yet  more  afflicting  trials  by  land  await 
thee.    The  Trojans  shall  come  to  the  realms  of  lyavin- 
ium,  (dismiss  that  concern  from  thy  breast,)  but  they 
shall  wish,  too,  they  had  never  come.    Wars,  horrid  wars, 
I  foresee,  and  Tiber  foaming  with  a  deluge  of  blood. 
Nor  Simois,  nor  Xanthus,  nor  Grecian  camps,  shall  be 
wanting  to  you  there.    Another  Achilles  is  prepared  in 
I^atium  :  he,  too,  the  son  of  a  goddess.    Nor  shall  Juno, 
added  to  the  Trojans  [as  their  scourge],  leave  them 
wherever  they  are  :  while  in  your  distress,  which  of  the 
Italian  states,  which  of  its  cities,  shall  you  not  humbly  sup- 
plicate for  aid?    Once  more  shall  a  consort,  a  hostess, 
once  more  shall  a  foreign  match,  be  the  cause  of  so  great 
calamity  to  the  Trojans.    Yield  not  under  your  suffer- 
ings, but  encounter  them  with  greater  boldness  than 
your  fortune  shall  permit.    What  you  least  expect,  your 
first  means  of  deliverance  shall  be  unfolded  from  a 
Grecian  city.    Thus  from  her  holy  cell  the  Cumsean  Sibyl 
delivers  her  my-sterious  oracles,  and,  wrapping  up  truth 
in  obscurity,  bellows  in  her  cave:    Such  reins  Apollo 
shakes  over  her  as  she  rages,  and  deep  in  her  breast  he 
plies  the  goads. 

As  soon  as  her  fury  ceased,  and  her  raving  tongue  was 
silent,  the  hero  ^neas  begins:  To  me,  O  virgin,  no 
shape  of  sufferings  can  arise  new  or  unexpected  ;  I  have 
anticipated  all  things,  and  acted  them  over  beforehand  in 
my  mind.    My  sole  request  is,  (since  here  the  gate  of 


144  iENEID.  B.  VI.  107-135. 

the  infernal  king  is  said  to  be,  and  the  darksome  lake 
[formed]  from  the  overflowing  Acheron,)  that  it  may  be 
my  lot  to  come  into  the  sight  and  presence  of  my  dear 
father  ;  that  you  would  show  the  way,  and  open  to  me 
the  sacred  portals.  On  these  shoulders  I  rescued  him 
through  flames  and  a  thousand  darts  pursuing,  and  saved 
him  from  the  midst  of  the  enemy.  He  accompanied  my 
path,  attended  me  in  all  my  voyages,  and,  though  mfirm, 
bore  all  the  terrors  both  of  the  sea  and  sky,  beyond  the 
power  and  condition  of  old  age.  Nay  more,  he  it  was 
who  earnestly  requested  and  enjoined  me  to  come  to 
thee  a  stippliant,  and  visit  thy  temple.  Benignant  one 
•  pity,  I  pray,  the  son  and  the  sire  ;  for  thou  canst  do  all 
things  ;  nor  hath  Hecate  in  vain  given  thee  charge  of  the 
Avernian  groves.  If  OiTDheus  had  power  to  recall  his 
consort's  ghost,  relying  on  his  Thracian  harp  and  har- 
monious strings ;  if  Pollux  redeemed  his  brother  by  al- 
ternate death,  and  goes  and  comes  this  way  so  often :  [I 
hope  I  may  also  be  allowed  to  go  and  return :]  why  need 
I  mention  theseus,  or  great  Alcides?  I,  too,  derive  my 
birth  from  Jove  supreme. 

In  such  terms  he  prayed,  and  held  the  altar,  when  thus 
the  prophetess  began  to  speak :  Ofi-spring  of  the  gods, 
thou  Trojan  son  of  Anchises,  easy  is  the  path  that  leads 
down  to  hell ;  grim  Pluto's  gate  stands  open  night  and 
day  :  but  to  retrace  one's  steps,  and  escape  to  the  upper 
regions,  this  is  a  work,  this  is  a  task.  Some  few,  whom 
.favouring  Jove  loved,  or  illustrious  virtue  advanced  to 
'.heaven,  the  sons  of  the  gods,  have  effected  it.  Woods 
■cover  aU  the  intervening  space,  and  Cocytus  gliding  with 
his  black  winding  flood  surrounds  it.  But  if  your  soul  be 
possessed  with  so  strong  a  passion,  so  ardent  a  desire, 
twice  to  swim  the  Stygian  lake,  twice  to  visit  gloomy 
Tartarus,  and  you  will  needs  fondly  pursue  the  desperate 


B.  VI.  136-166. 


^NKID. 


145 


enterprise,  learn  what  first  is  to  be  done.  On  a  tree  of 
deep  shade  there  lies  concealed  a  bough,  with  leaves  and 
limber  twigs  of  gold,  pronounced  sacred  to  infernal  Juno  : 
this  the  whole  grove  covers,  and  shades  in  dark  valleys 
enclose.  But  to  none  is  it  given  to  enter  the  hidden  re- 
cesses of  the  earth,  till  from  the  tree  he  pluck  the  bough 
with  its  golden  locks.  Fair  Proserpine  hath  ordained  this 
to  be  presented  to  her  as  her  peculiar  present.  When  the 
first  is  torn  off,  a  second  of  gold  soon  succeeds ;  and  a 
twig  shoots  forth  leaves  of  the  same  metal.  Therefore 
search  out  for  it  on  high  with  thine  eyes,  and  when  found, 
pluck  it  with  the  hand  in  a  proper  manner ;  for,  if  the 
Fates  invite  you,  itself  will  come  away  willing  and  easy  S 
otherwise  you  will  not  be  able  to  master  it  by  any  strength,! 
or  to  lop  it  off  by  the  stubborn  steel.  Besides,  the  body 
of  your  friend  lies  breathless,  (whereof  you,  alas  !  are  not 
aware,)  and  pollutes  the  whole  fleet  with  death,  while  you 
are  seeking  counsel,  and  hang  lingering  at  my  gate. 
First  convey  him  to  his  place  of  rest,  and  bury  him  in  the 
grave.  Bring  black  cattle  :  let  these  first  be  the  sacrifices 
of  expiation.  So  at  length  you  shall  have  a  view  of  the 
Stygian  groves,  realms  inaccessible  to  the  living.  She 
said,  and  closing  her  lips,  was  silent. 

^neas,  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  ground  with  sorrowing 
looks,  takes  his  way,  leaving  the  cave,  and  muses  the  dark 
event  in  his  mind ;  whom  faithful  Achates  accompanies, 
and  steps  on  with  equal  concern.  Many  doubts  they 
started  between  them  in  the  variety  of  their  conversation ; 
who  was  the  lifeless  friend  designed  by  the  prophetess, 
what  corpse  was  to  be  interred.  And  as  they  came,  they 
saw  Misenus  on  the  dry  breach,  slain  by  an  unworthy 
death ;  Misenus,  son  of  ^olus,  whom  none  excelled  in 
rousing  warriors  by  the  brazen  trump,  and  kindling  the 
rage  of  war  by  its  blast.    He  had  been  the  companion  of 


146  i^NKID.  B.  VI.  167-197. 

great  Hector,  and  about  Hector  he  fought,  distinguished 
both  for  the  clarion  and  spear.  After  victorious  Achilles 
had  bereaved  Hector  of  life,  the  valiant  hero  associated 
with  Dardanian  ^neas,  following  no  inferior  chief.  But 
at  that  time,  while  madly  presumptuous  he  makes  the  seas 
resound  with  his  hollow  trump,  and  with  bold  notes  chal-  , 
lenges  the  gods  to  a  trial  of  skill,  Triton,  jealous,  (if  the 
story  be  worthy  of  credit,)  having  inveigled  him  between 
two  rocks,  had  overwhelmed  him  in  the  foaming  billows. 
Therefore  all  murmm-ed  their  lamentations  around  him 
with  loud  noise,  especially  pious  ^neas  ;  then  forthwith 
weeping  thev  set  about  the  Sibyl's  orders,  and  are  emu- 
lous to  heap  up  the  altar  of  the  funeral  pile  with  trees, 
and  raise  it  towards  heaven.  They  repair  to  an  ancient 
wood,  the  deep  lairs  of  the  savage  kind :  down  drop  the 
firs :  the  holm  crashes,  felled  by  the  axes  ;  and  the  ashen 
logs  and  yielding  oak  are  cleft  by  wedges  ;  down  from  the 
mountains  they  roll  the  huge  wild  ashes,  ^neas,  too, 
chief  amidst  these  labours,  animates  his  followers,  and  is 
equipped  with  like  implements. 

Meanwhile  he  thus  ruminates  in  his  distressed  breast, 
surveying  the  spacious  wood,  and  thus  prays  aloud  :  O  if 
that  golden  branch  on  the  tree  now  present  itself  to  our 
view  amid  this  ample  forest ;  since,  Misenus,  all  that  the 
prophetess  declared  of  thee,  is  true,  alas!  too  true. 
Scarcely  had  he  spoken  these  words,  when  it  chanced 
that  two  pigeons,  la  their  airy  flight,  came  directly  into 
the  hero's  view,  and  alighted  on  the  verdant  ground. 
Then  the  mighty  hero  knows  his  mother's  birds,  and  re- 
joicing prays  :  Oh  !  be  the  guides  of  the  way,  if  any  way 
there  is,  and  steer  your  course  through  the  air  into  the 
groves,  where  the  precious  branch  overshades  the  fertile 
soil.  And  thou,  my  goddess-mother,  oh  be  not  wanting 
to  me  in  this  my  perplexity  !  Thus  having  said,  he  paused. 


B.  VI.  324-352.  ^NKID.  |5;j 

Stygian  lake,  by  whose  divinity  the  gods  dread  to  swear 
and  violate  [their  oath].  All  that  crowd,  which  you  see, 
consists  of  naked  and  unburied  persons :  that  ferryman  is 
Charon :  these,  whom  the  stream  carries,  are  interred ; 
for  it  is  not  permitted  to  transport  them  over  the  horrid 
banks,  and  hoarse  waves,  before  their  bones  are  quietly 
7odged  in  a  final  abode.  They  wander  a  hundred  years, 
and  flutter  about  these  shores  :  then  at  length  admitted* 
they  visit  the  wished-for  lakes. 

The  offspring  of  Anchises  paused  and  repressed  his 
steps,  deeply  musing,  and  pitying  from  his  soul  their  un- 
kmd  lot.    There  he  espies  I^eucaspis,  and  Orontes,  the 
commander  of  the  I^ycian  fleet,  mournful,  and  bereavea"^ 
of  the  honours  of  the  dead:  whom,  as  they  sailed  from 
Troy,  over  the  stormy  seas,  the  south  wind  sunk  to-' 
gether,  whelming  both  ship  and  crew  in  the  waves.    I,o  1 
the  pilot  Palinurus  slowly  advanced;  who  lately  in  his 
Libyan  voyage,  while  he  was  observing  the  stars,  had 
fallen  from  the  stern,  plunged  in  the  midst  of  the  waves 
When  with  difficulty,  by  reason  of  the  thick  shade,  ^neas 
knew  him,  in  this  mournful  mood,  he  thus  first  accosts 
him :    What  god,  O  Palinurus,  snatched  you  from  us,  and 
overwhelmed  you  in  the  middle  of  the  ocean?  Come  tell 
me.    For  Apollo,  whom  I  never  before  found  false  in 
this  one  response  deceived  my  mind,  declaring  that  you 
should  be  safe  on  the  sea,  and  arrive  at  the  Ausonian 
coasts :  Is  this  the  amount  of  his  plighted  faith? 
.  But  he  [answers]  :  Neither  the  oracle  of  Ph^bus  be- 
guiled you,  prince  of  the  line  of  Anchises,  nor  a  god 
^plunged  me  in  the  sea  ;  for,  falling  headlong,  I  drew  along 
with  me  the  helm,  which  I  chanced  with  great  violence 
to  tear  away,  as  I  clung  to  it,  and  steered  our  course 
bemg  appointed  pilot.    By  the  rough  seas  I  swear,  that  I 
was  not  so  seriously  apprehensive  for  myself,  as  that  thy 


152 


B.  VI.  353-381. 


ship,  despoiled  of  her  rudder,  dispossessed  of  her  pilot, 
might  sink  while  such  high  billows  were  rising.  The 
south  wind  drove  me  violently  on  the  water  over  the 
spacious  sea,  three  wintry  nights :  on  the  fourth  day  I 
descried  Italy  from  the  high  ridge  of  a  wave  [whereon  I 
was]  raised  aloft.  I  was  swimming  gradually  towards 
land,  and  should  have  been  out  of  danger,  had  not  the 
cruel  people  fallen  upon  me  with  the  sword,  (encumbered 
with  my  wet  garment,  and  grasping  with  crooked  hands 
the  rugged  tops  of  a  mountain,)  and  ignorantly  taking  me 
for  a  rich  prey.  Now  the  waves  possess  me,  and  the 
winds  toss  me  about  the  shore.  But  by  the  pleasant  light 
'of  heaven,  and  by  the  vital  air,  by  him  who  gave  thee 
birth,  by  the  hope  of  rising  liilus,  I  thee  implore,  invin- 
cible one,  release  me  from  these  woes :  either  throw  on 
me  some  earth,  (for  thou  canst  do  so,)  and  seek  out  the 
Veline  port ;  or,  if  there  be  any  means,  if  thy  goddess 
mother  point  out  any,  (for  thou  dost  not,  I  presume, 
without  the  will  of  the  gods,  attempt  to  cross  such  mighty 
rivers  and  the  Stygian  lake,)  lend  your  hand  to  an  un- 
happy wretch,  and  bear  me  with  you  over  the  waves,  that 
in  death  at  least  I  may  rest  in  peaceful  seats. 

Thus  he  spoke,  when  thus  the  prophetess  began : 
Whence,  O  Palinurus,  rises  in  thee  this  so  impious  desire  ? 
Shall  you  unburied  behold  the  Stygian  floods,  and  the 
grim  river  of  the  F'uries,  or  reach  the  bank  against  the 
command  [of  heaven]  ?  Cease  to  hope  that  the  decrees 
of  the  gods  are  to  be  altered  by  prayers ;  but  mindful 
take  these  predictions  as  the  solace  of  your  hard  fate. 
For  the  neighbouring  people,  compelled  by  portentous 
plagues  from  heaven,  shall  through  their  several  cities  far 
and  wide  offer  atonement  to  thy  ashes,  erect  a  tomb,  and 
stated  anniversary  ofl"ering  on  that  tomb  present ;  and  the 
place  shall  for  ever  retain  the  name  of  Palinurus.  By  these 


B.  VI.  78-106.  ^NKID.  141; 

gling  if  possible  to  disburden  her  soul  of  the  mighty  god  ; 
so  much  the  more  he  wearies  her  foaming  lips,  subduing 
her  ferocious  heart,  and,  by  bearing  down  her  opposition 
moulds  her  to  his  will.    And  now  the  hundred  spacious 
.gates  of  the  abode  were  opened  of  their  own  accord,  and 
'pour  forth  the  responses  of  the  prophetess  into  the  open 
air :  O  thou  who  hast  at  length  overpassed  the  vast  perils 
of  the  ocean  !  yet  more  afflicting  trials  by  land  await 
thee.    The  Trojans  shall  come  to  the  realms  of  I,avin- 
mm,  (dismiss  that  concern  from  thy  breast,)  but  they 
shall  wish,  too,  they  had  never  come.    Wars,  horrid  wars 
I  foresee,  and  Tiber  foaming  with  a  deluge  of  blood'. 
Nor  Simois,  nor  Xanthus,  nor  Grecian  camps,  shall  be" 
wanting  to  you  there.    Another  Achilles  is  prepared  in 
Ivatium  :  he,  too,  the  son  of  a  goddess.    Nor  shall  Juno  ^ 
added  to  the  Trojans  [as  their  scourge],  leave  them 
wherever  they  are  :  while  in  your  distress,  which  of  the 
Italian  states,  which  of  its  cities,  shall  you  not  humbly  sup. 
plicate  for  aid?    Once  more  shall  a  consort,  a  hostess 
once  more  shall  a  foreign  match,  be  the  cause  of  so  great 
calamity  to  the  Trojans.    Yield  not  under  your  suffer- 
mgs,  but  encounter  them  with  greater  boldness  than 
your  fortune  shall  permit.    What  you  least  expect,  your 
first  means  of  deliverance  shall  be  unfolded  from  a 
Grecian  city.    Thus  from  her  holy  cell  the  Cumsean  Sibyl 
delivers  her  mysterious  oracles,  and,  wrapping  up  truth 
m  obscurity,  bellows  in  her  cave:    Such  reins  Apollo 
shakes  over  her  as  she  rages,  and  deep  in  her  breast  he 
plies  the  goads. 

As  soon  as  her  fury  ceased,  and  her  raving  tongue  was 
silent,  the  hero  ^neas  begins:  To  me,  O  virgin,  no 
snape  of  sufferings  can  arise  new  or  unexpected  ;  I  have 
anticipated  all  things,  and  acted  them  over  beforehand  in 
my  mmd.  My  sole  request  is,  (since  here  the  gate  of 
7 


144  ^NEID.  B.  VI.  107-135. 

the  infernal  king  is  said  to  be,  and  the  darksome  lake 
[formed]  from  the  overflowing  Acheron,)  that  it  may  be 
my  lot  to  come  into  the  sight  and  presence  of  my  dear 
father  •  that  you  would  show  the  way,  and  open  to  me 
the  sacred  portals.  On  these  shoulders  I  rescued  him 
through  flames  and  a  thousand  darts  pursuing,  and  saved 
him  from  the  midst  of  the  enemy.  He  accompanied  my 
path,  attended  me  in  all  my  voyages,  and,  though  infirm, 
bore  all  the  terrors  both  of  the  sea  and  sky,  beyond  the 
power  and  condition  of  old  age.  Nay  more,  he  it  was 
who  earnestly  requested  and  enjoined  me  to  come  to 
.thee  a  suppliant,  and  visit  thy  temple.  Benignant  one 
pity,  I  pray,  the  son  and  the  sire  ;  for  thou  canst  do  all 
things  ;  nor  hath  Hecate  in  vain  given  thee  charge  of  the 
*  Avernian  groves.  If  Orpheus  had  power  to  recall  his 
consort's  ghost,  relying  on  his  Thracian  haip  and  har^ 
monious  strings;  if  PoUux  redeemed  his  brother  by  al- 
ternate death,  and  goes  and  comes  this  way  so  often :  [I 
hope  I  may  also  be  allowed  to  go  and  return :]  why  need 
I  mention  Theseus,  or  great  Alcides?  I,  too,  derive  my 
birth  from  Jove  supreme. 

In  such  terms  he  prayed,  and  held  the  altar,  when  thus 
the  prophetess  began  to  speak:  Offspring  of  the  gods, 
thou  Trojan  son  of  Anchises,  easy  is  the  path  that  leads 
down  to  hell ;  grim  Pluto's  gate  stands  open  night  and 
day  :  but  to  retrace  one's  steps,  and  escape  to  the  upper 
regions,  this  is  a  work,  this  is  a  task.  Some  few,  whom 
.favouring  Jove  loved,  or  illustrious  virtue  advanced  to 
•heaven,  the  sons  of  the  gods,  have  effected  it  Woods 
cover  all  the  intervening  space,  and  Cocytus  glidmg  with 
his  black  winding  flood  surrounds  it.  But  if  your  soul  be 
possessed  with  so  strong  a  passion,  so  ardent  a  desire, 
twice  to  swim  the  Stygian  lake,  twice  to  visit  gloomy 
Tartarus,  and  you  will  needs  fondly  pursue  the  desperate 


B.  VI.  382-410.  I53 

words  his  cares  were  removed,  and  grief  was  for  a  time 
banished  from  his  disconsolate  heart :  he  rejoices  in  the 
land  that  is  to  bear  his  name. 

They  therefore  accomplish  their  journey  begun,  and 
approach  the  river :  whom  when  the  boatmen  soon  from 
,  the  Stygian  wave  beheld  advancing  through  the  sUeut 
grove,  and  stepping  forward  to  the  bank,  thus  he  first 
accosts  them  in  words,  and  chides  them  unprovoked: 
Whoever  thou  mayest  be,  who  art  now  advancing  armed 
to  our  rivers,  say  quick  for  what  end  thou  comest ;  and 
from  that  very  spot  repress  thy  step.  This  is  the  region 
of  Ghosts,  of  Sleep,  and  drowsy  Night :  to  waft  over  the, 
bodies  of  the  living  in  my  Stygian  boat  is  not  permitted 
Nor  indeed  was  it  joy  to  me  that  I  received  Alcides  on  the 
lake  when  he  came,  or  Theseus  and  Pirithous,  though  ' 
they  were  the  oifspring  of  the  gods,  and  invincible  in 
might.  One  with  his  hand  put  the  keeper  of  Tartarus  in 
chains,  and  dragged  him  trembling  from  the  throne  of 
our  king  himself ;  the  others  attempted  to  cany  off  our 
queen  from  Pluto's  bed-chamber. 

In  answer  to  which,  the  Amphrysian  prophetess  spoke : 
No  such  plots  are  here,  be  not  disturbed,  nor  do  these 
weapons  bring  violence :  the  huge  porter  may  bay  in  his 
den  for  ever,  terrifying  the  incorporeal  shades :  chaste 
^oserpine  may  remain  in  her  uncle's  palace.  Trojan 
iEneas  illustrious  for  piety  and  arms,  descends  to  the 
deep  shades  of  Erebus  to  his  sire.  If  the  image  of  such 
piety  makes  no  impression  on  you,  own  a  regard  at  least 
to  this  branch  (she  shows  the  branch  that  was  concealed 
under  her  robe).  Then  his  heart  from  sweUing  rage  is 
stilled :  nor  passed  more  words  than  these.  He  with  won- 
der gazing  on  the  haUowed  present  of  the  fatal  branch, 
beheld  after  a  long  season,  turns  towards  them  his  lead- 
coloured  barge,  and  approaches  the  bank.   Thence  he 


154 


^NKID. 


B.  VI.  411-438. 


dislodges  the  other  souls  that  sat  on  the  long  benches, 
and  clears  the  hatches ;  at  the  same  time,  receives  into 
the  hold  the  mighty  J^neas.  The  boat  of  sewn  hide 
groaned  under  the  weight,  and,  being  leaky,  took  in  much 
water  from  the  lake.  At  length  he  lands  the  hero  and 
the  prophetess  safe  on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  on  the 
foul  slimy  strand  and  sea-green  weed.  Huge  Cerberus 
makes  these  realms  to  resound  with  barking  from  his 
triple  jaws,  stretched  at  his  enormous  length  in  a  den  that 
fronts  the  gate.  To  whom  the  prophetess,  seeing  his 
neck  now  bristle  with  horrid  snakes,  flings  a  soporific 

icake  of  honey  and  medicated  grain.  He,  in  the  mad  rage 
of  hunger,  opening  his  three  mouths,  snatches  the  offered 
morsel,  and,  spread  on  the  ground,  relaxes  his  monstrous 

himbs,  and  is  extended  at  vast  length  over  all  the  cave, 
^neas,  now  that  the  keeper  [of  hell]  is  buried  [in  sleep], 
seizes  the  passage,  and  swift  overpasses  the  bank  of  that 
flood  whence  there  is  no  return. 

Forthwith  are  heard  voices,  loud  wailings,  and  weeping 
ghosts  of  infants,  in  the  first  opening  of  the  gate  ;  whom, 
bereaved  of  sweet  life  out  of  the  course  of  nature,  and 
snatched  from  the  breast,  a  black  day  cut  off,  and  buried 
in  an  untimely  grave. 

Next  to  those,  are  such  as  had  been  condemned  to 
death  by  false  accusations.  Nor  yet  were  those  seats 
assigned  them  without  a  trial,  without  a  judge.  Minos, 
as  inquisitor,  shakes  the  urn  :  he  convokes  the  council  of 
the  silent,  and  examines  their  lives  and  crimes. 

The  next  places  in  order  those  mournful  ones  possess, 
who,  though  free  from  crime,  procured  death  to  them- 
selves with  their  own  hands,  and,  sick  of  the  light,  threw 
away  their  lives.  How  gladly  would  they  now  endure 
poverty  and  painful  toils  in  the  upper  regions  !  Fate  op- 
poses, and  the  hateful  lake  imprisons  them  with  its 


B.  VI.  136-166. 


145 


enterprise,  learn  what  first  is  to  be  done.  On  a  tree  of 
deep  shade  there  lies  concealed  a  bough,  with  leaves  and 
limber  twigs  of  gold,  pronounced  sacred  to  infernal  Juno  : 
this  the  whole  grove  covers,  and  shades  in  dark  valleys 
enclose.  But  to  none  is  it  given  to  enter  the  hidden  re- 
cesses of  the  earth,  till  from  the  tree  he  pluck  the  bough 
with  its  golden  locks.  Fair  Proserpine  hath  ordained  this 
to  be  presented  to  her  as  her  peculiar  present.  When  the 
first  is  torn  off,  a  second  of  gold  soon  succeeds ;  and  a 
twig  shoots  forth  leaves  of  the  same  metal.  Therefore 
search  out  for  it  on  high  with  thine  eyes,  and  when  found, 
pluck  it  with  the  hand  in  a  proper  manner;  for,  if  the 
Fates  invite  you,  itself  will  come  away  willing  and  easy  ; 
otherwise  you  will  not  be  able  to  master  it  by  any  strength, 
or  to  lop  it  off  by  the  stubborn  steel.  Besides,  the  body 
of  your  friend  lies  breathless,  (whereof  you,  alas  !  are  not  ' 
aware,)  and  pollutes  the  whole  fleet  with  death,  while  you 
are  seeking  counsel,  and  hang  lingering  at  my  gate. 
First  convey  him  to  his  place  of  rest,  and  bury  him  in  the 
grave.  Bring  black  cattle  :  let  these  first  be  the  sacrifices 
of  expiation.  So  at  length  you  shall  have  a  view  of  the 
Stygian  groves,  realms  inaccessible  to  the  living.  She 
said,  and  closing  her  lips,  was  silent. 

^neas,  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  ground  with  sorrowing 
looks,  takes  his  way,  leaving  the  cave,  and  muses  the  dark 
event  in  his  mind ;  whom  faithful  Achates  accompanies, 
and  steps  on  with  equal  concern.  Many  doubts  they 
started  between  them  in  the  variety  of  their  conversation  ; 
who  Hvas  the  lifeless  friend  designed  by  the  prophetess, 
what  corpse  was  to  be  interred.  And  as  they  came,  they 
saw  Misenus  on  the  dry  breach,  slain  by  an  unworthy 
death ;  Misenus,  son  of  ^olus,  whom  none  excelled  in 
rousing  warriors  by  the  brazen  trump,  and  kindling  the 
tage  of  war  by  its  blast.    He  had  been  the  companion  of 


146  .5^NKID.  B.  Yi.  167-197. 

great  Hector,  and  about  Hector  he  fought,  distinguished 
both  for  the  clarion  and  spear.    After  victorious  Achilles 
had  bereaved  Hector  of  life,  the  valiant  hero  associated 
with  Dardanian  ^neas,  following  no  inferior  chief.  But 
at  that  time,  while  madly  presumptuous  he  makes  the  seas 
resound  with  his  hollow  trump,  and  with  bold  notes  chal-  , 
lenges  the  gods  to  a  trial  of  skill,  Triton,  jealous,  (if  the 
story  be  worthy  of  credit,)  having  inveigled  him  between 
two  rocks,  had  overwhelmed  him  in  the  foaming  billows. 
-Therefore  all  murmured  their  lamentations  around  him 
I  with  loud  noise,  especially  pious  ^neas  ;  then  forthwith 
I  weeping  they  set  about  the  Sibyl's  orders,  and  are  emu- 
^'lous  to  heap  up  the  altar  of  the  funeral  pile  with  trees, 
and  raise  it  towards  heaven.    They  repair  to  an  ancient 
wood,  the  deep  lairs  of  the  savage  kind :  down  drop  the 
\'  firs :  the  holm  crashes,  felled  by  the  axes  ;  and  the  ashen 
'  logs  and  yielding  oak  are  cleft  by  wedges  ;  down  from  the 
mountains  they  roll  the  huge  wild  ashes,    ^neas,  too, 
chief  amidst  these  labours,  animates  his  followers,  and  is 
equipped  with  like  implements. 

Meanwhile  he  thus  ruminates  in  his  distressed  breast, 
surveying  the  spacious  wood,  and  thus  prays  aloud  :  O  if 
that  golden  branch  on  the  tree  now  present  itself  to  our 
view  amid  this  ample  forest ;  since,  Misenus,  all  that  the 
prophetess  declared  of  thee,  is  true,  alas  I  too  true. 
Scarcely  had  he  spoken  these  words,  when  it  chanced 
that  two  pigeons,  la  their  airy  flight,  came  directly  into 
the  hero's  view,  and  alighted  on  the  verdant  ground. 
Then  the  mighty  hero  knows  his  mother's  birds,  and  re- 
joicing prays  :  Oh  1  be  the  guides  of  the  way,  if  any  way 
there  is,  and  steer  your  course  through  the  air  into  the 
groves,  where  the  precious  branch  overshades  the  fertile 
soil.  And  thou,  my  goddess-mother,  oh  be  not  wanting 
to  me  in  this  my  perplexity  !  Thus  having  said,  he  paused, 


B.  VI.  198-228. 


147 


observing  what  indications  they  offer,  whither  they  bend 
their  way.  They,  feeding  and  flying  by  turns,  advanced 
before  only  as  far  as  the  eyes  of  the  followers  could  trace 
them  with  their  ken.  Then,  having  come  to  the  mouth 
of  noisome  Avernus,  they  mount  up  swiftly,  and,  gliding 
through  the  clear  air,  both  alight  on  the  wished-for  place, 
on  that  tree  from  whence  the  gleam  of  the  gold,  of  differ- 
ent hue,  shone  through  the  boughs.  As  in  the  woods  the 
mistletoe,  which  springs  not  from  the  tree  from  whence 
it  grows,  is  wont  to  bloom  with  new  leaves  in  the  cold  of 
winter,  and  to  twine  around  the  tapering  trunk  with  its 
yellow  offspring ;  such  was  the  appearance  of  the  gold 
sprouting  forth  on  the  shady  holm  ;  in  like  manner  the 
metallic  leaf  tinkled  with  the  gentle  gale.  Forthwith 
^neas  grasps,  and  eagerly  tears  off  the  lingering  branch, 
and  bears  it  to  the  grotto  of  the  prophetic  Sibyl. 

Meanwhile  the  Trojans  were  no  less  assiduously  em- 
ployed in  mourning  Misenus  on  the  shore,  and  in  paying 
the  last  duties  to  his  senseless  ashes.  First  they  rear  a 
vast  ^le  unctuous  with  pines  and  split  oak,  whose  sides 
they  interweave  with  black  boughs,  and  place  in  the  front 
deadly  cypresses,  and  deck  it  above  with  glittering  arms. 
Some  get  ready  warm  water,  and  caldrons  bubbling  from 
the  flames;  and  wash  and  anoint  his  cold  limbs.  The 
groan  is  raised :  they  then  lay  the  bewailed  body  on  a 
couch,  and  throw  over  it  the  purple  robes,  his  wonted 
apparel.  Others  bore  up  the  cumbrous  bier,  a  mournful 
ofiice ;  and  with  their  faces  turned  away,  after  the  manner 
of  their  ancestors,  under  it  they  held  the  torch.  Amassed 
together,  blaze  oflferings  of  incense,  viands,  whole  goblets 
of  oil  poured  [on  the  pile] .  After  the  ashes  had  sunk 
down,  and  the  flames  relented,  they  drenched  the  relics 
and  soaking  embers  in  wine ;  and  Chorinaeus  enclosed 
the  collected  bones  in  a  brazen  urn.  Thrice  too  he  made 
7* 


148  '      ^NEID.  B.  VI.  229-260. 

the  Circuit  of  the  company  with  holy  water  sprinkling 
them  with  the  light  spray,  and  a  branch  of  the  prolific 
olive;  and  he  purified  them,  and  pronounced  the  las. 
farewell.  But  pious  ^neas  erects  a  spacious  tomb  for  the 
hero,  with  his  arms  upon  it,  and  an  oar  and  trumpet 
beneath  a  lofty  mountain,  which  now  from  him  is  called 
Misenus,  and  retains  a  name  eternal  through  ages.  _ 

This  done,  he  speedily  executes  the  Sibyl's  injunc- 
tions.   There  was  a  cave  profound  and  hideous  with  wide 
yawning  mouth,  stony,  fenced  by  a  black  lake,  and  the 
gloom  of  woods  ;  over  which  none  of  the  flymg  kind  were 
able  to  wing  their  way  unhurt :  such  exhalations,  issuing 
from  its  grim  jaws,  ascended  to  the  vaulted  skies :  [for 
which  reason  the  Greeks  called  the  place  by  the  name  of 
Aornus.]    Here  first  the  priestess  places  four  bullocks 
with  backs  of  swarthy  hue,  and  pours  wine  on  their  fore- 
heads, and  cropping  the  topmost  hairs  between  the  horns. 
Fays  them  on  the  sacred  flames  as  the  first  offerings  by 
voice  invoking  Hecate  whose  power  extends  both  to 
heaven  and  hell.    Others  employ  the  knives,  andreceive 
the  tepid  blood  in  bowls,    ^"-^.^r^^^  ^"it^'^^J^J 
sword  a  ewe-lamb  of  sable  fleece  in  honour  of  the  motiier 
of  the  Fairies,  and  her  great  sister,  and  in  honour  of  thee, 
Proserpina,  a  barren  heifer.    Then  he  sets  about  he 
nocturnal  sacrifices  to  the  Stygian  king,  and  lays  on  the 
flames  the  solid  carcasses  of  bulls,  pourmg  fat  oil  on  the 
Soiling  entrails.    Lo  now,  at  the  early  beams  and  rising 
of  the  sun,  the  ground  beneath  their  feet  began  to  rum- 
ble the  wooded  heights  to  quake,  and  dogs  were  seen  to 
howl  through  the  shade  of  the  woods,  at  the  approach  of 
?he  goddess    Hence,  far  hence,  O  ye  profane,  exclaims 
the  prophetess,  and  begone  from  all  f^'^'l^'^l^^ 
yon,  Mneas,  boldly  march  forward,  and  snatch  your 
ftom  i  s  sheath :  now  is  the  time  for  fortitude,  now 


B.  VI.  261-292. 


149 


for  firmness  of  resolution.  This  said,  she  raving  plunged 
into  the  open  cave.  He,  with  intrepid  steps,  keeps  close 
by  his  guide  as  she  leads  the  way. 

Ye  gods,  to  whom  the  empire  of  ghosts  belong,  and  ye 
^silent  shades,  and  Chaos,  and  Phlegethon,  places  where 
■  silence  reigns  around  in  night !  permit  me  to  utter  the 
secrets  I  have  heard  ;  may  I  by  your  divine  will  disclose 
things  buried  in  deep  earth  and  darkness.  They  moved 
along  amid  the  gloom  under  the  solitary  night  through 
the  shade,  and  through  the  desolate  halls  and  empty 
realms  of  Pluto  ;  such  as  is  a  journey  in  woods  beneath 
the  unsteady  moon,  under  a  faint,  glimmering  light, 
when  Jupiter  hath  wrapped  the  heavens  in  shade  and 
sable  night  hath  stripped  objects  of  colours. 

Before  the  vestibule  itself,  and  in  the  first  jaws  of  hell. 
Grief  and  vengeful  Cares  have  placed  their  couches,  and 
pale  Diseases  dwell,  and  disconsolate  Old  Age,  and  Fear, 
and  the  evil  counsellor  Famine,  and  vile  deformed  Indi- 
gence, forms  ghastly  to  the  sight!  and  Death  and  Toil ; 
then  Sleep,  akin  to  Death,  and  criminal  Joys  of  the 
mind ;  and  in  the  opposite  threshold  murderous  War,  and 
the  iron  bed-chambers  of  the  Furies,  and  frantic  Discord, 
having  her  viperous  locks  bound  with  bloody  fillets. 

In  the  midst  a  gloomy  elm  displays  its  boughs  and 
aged  arms;,  which  seat  vain  Dreams  are  commonly  said  to 
haunt,  and  under  every  leaf  they  dwell.  Many  mon- 
strous savages,  moreover,  of  various  forms,  stable  in  the 
gates,  the  Centaurs  and  double-formed  Scyllas,  and  Bri- 
areus  with  his  hundred  hands,  and  the  enormous  snake  of 
Lerna  hissing  dreadful,  and  Chimsera  armed  with  flames ; 
Gorgons,  Harpies,  and  the  form  of  Geryon's  three-bodied 
ghost.  Here  ^neas,  disconcerted  with  sudden  fear,  grasps 
his  sword,  and  presents  the  naked  point  to  each  approach- 
ing  shade :  and  had  not  his  skilful  guide  put  him  in  mind 


<50 


B.  VI.  292-323. 


that  they  were  airy  unbodied  phantoms,  fluttering  about 
under  an  empty  form,  he  had  rushed  in,  and  with  his 
sword  struck  at  the  ghosts  in  vain. 

Hence  is  a  path,  which  leads  to  the  floods  of  Tartarean 
Acheron :  here  a  gulf  turbid  and  impure  boils  up  with 
mire  and  vast  whirlpools,  and  disgorges  all  its  sand  into 
iCocytus.  A  grim  ferryman  guards  these  floods  and  riv- 
ers, Charon,  of  frightful  slovenliness;  on  whose  chin  a 
load  of  grey  hair  neglected  lies  ;  his  eyes  are  flame :  his 
vestments  hang  from  his  shoulders  by  a  knot,  with  filth 
overgrown.  Himself  thrusts  on  the  barge  with  a  pole, 
and  tends  the  sails,  and  wafts  over  the  bodies  in  his  iron- 
coloured  boat,  now  in  years  :  but  the  god  is  of  fresh  and 
green  old  age.  Hither  the  whole  tribe  in  swarms  came 
pouring  to  the  banks,  matrons  and  men,  the  souls  of 
magnanimous  heroes  who  had  gone  through  life,  boys 
and  unmarried  maids,  and  young  men  who  had  been 
stretched  on  the  funeral  pile  before  the  eyes  of  their  par- 
ents ;  as  numerous  as  withered  leaves  fall  in  the  woods 
with  the  first  cold  of  autumn,  or  as  numerous  as  birds 
flock  to  land  from  deep  ocean,  when  the  chilling  year 
drives  them  beyond  sea,  and  sends  them  to  sunny  climeSo 
They  stood  praying  to  cross  the  flood  the  first,  and  were 
stretching  forth  their  hands  with  fond  desire  to  gain  the 
further  bank:  but  the  sullen  boatman  admits  sometimes 
these,  sometimes  those :  whilst  others,  to  a  great  distance 
removed,  he  debars  from  the  banks. 

^neas  (for  he  was  amazed  and  moved  with  the  tumult)^ 
thus  speaks  :  O  virgin,  say  what  means  that  flocking  to 
the  river  ?  what  do  the  ghosts  desire  ?  or  by  what  distinc- 
tion must  these  recede  from  the  banks,  those  sweep  with 
oars  the  livid  flood?  To  him  the  aged  priestess  thus 
briefly  replied:  Son  of  Anchises,  undoubted  offspring  of 
the  gods,  you  see  the  deep  pools  of  Cocytns,  and  the 


B.  VI.  324-352.  ^NEID.  -{5] 

Stygian  lake,  by  whose  divinity  the  gods  dread  to  swear 
and  violate  [their  oath].  AU  that  crowd,  which  you  see 
consists  of  naked  and  unburied  persons :  that  ferryman  is 
Charon:  these,  whom  the  stream  carries,  are  interred; 
for  it  is  not  permitted  to  transport  them  over  the  horrid 
banks,  and  hoarse  waves,  before  their  bones  are  quietly 
;odged  m  a  final  abode.  They  wander  a  hundred  years 
and  flutter  about  these  shores :  then  at  length  admitted' 
they  visit  the  wished-for  lakes.  ' 

The  offspring  of  Anchises  paused  and  repressed  his 
Steps,  deeply  musing,  and  pitying  from  his  soul  their  un- 
kind lot.    There  he  espies  Leucaspis,  and  Orontes,  the 
commander  of  the  I^ycian  fleet,  mournful,  and  bereaved 
of  the  honours  of  the  dead:  whom,  as  they  sailed  from 
Troy,  over  the  stormy  seas,  the  south  wind  sunk  to- 
gether, whelming  both  ship  and  crew  in  the  waves.    Lo  I 
the  pilot  Palinurus  slowly  advanced,  who  lately  in  his 
Libyan  voyage,  while  he  was  observing  the  stars,  had 
fallen  from  the  stem,  plunged  in  the  midst  of  the  waves 
When  with  difiiculty,  by  reason  of  the  thick  shade,  ^neas 
knew  him,  in  this  mournful  mood,  he  thus  first  accosts 
him :   What  god,  O  Palinurus,  snatched  you  from  us  and 
overwhelmed  you  in  the  middle  of  the  ocean?  Come  teU 
me.    For  ApoUo,  whom  I  never  before  found  false  in 
this  one  response  deceived  my  mind,  declaring  that  you 
should  be  safe  on  the  sea,  and  arrive  at  the  Ausonian 
coasts :  Is  this  the  amount  of  his  plighted  faith  ? 
(  But  he  [answers]  :  Neither  the  oracle  of  Phoebus  be- 
guiled you,  prince  of  the  line  of  Anchises,  nor  a  god 
^plunged  me  in  the  sea  ;  for,  falling  headlong,  I  drew  along 
yth  me  the  helm,  which  I  chanced  with  great  violence 
to  tear  away,  as  I  clung  to  it,  and  steered  our  course, 
bemg  appointed  pilot.    By  the  rough  seas  I  swear,  that  I 
was  not  so  seriously  apprehensive  for  myself,  as  that  thy 


152 


B.  VI.  353-381. 


ship,  despoiled  of  her  rudder,  dispossessed  of  her  pilot, 
might  sink  while  such  high  billows  were  rising.  The 
south  wind  drove  me  violently  on  the  water  over  the 
spacious  sea,  three  wintry  nights :  on  the  fourth  day  I 
descried  Italy  from  the  high  ridge  of  a  wave  [whereon  I 
was]  raised  aloft.  I  was  swimming  gradually  towards 
land,  and  should  have  been  out  of  danger,  had  not  the 
cruel  people  fallen  upon  me  with  the  sword,  (encumbered 
with  my  wet  garment,  and  grasping  with  crooked  hands 
the  rugged  tops  of  a  mountain,)  and  ignorantly  taking  me 
for  a  rich  prey.  Now  the  waves  possess  me,  and  the 
winds  toss  me  about  the  shore.  But  by  the  pleasant  light 
of  heaven,  and  by  the  vital  air,  by  him  who  gave  thee 
birth,  by  the  hope  of  rising  liilus,  I  thee  implore,  invin- 
cible one,  release  me  from  these  woes :  either  throw  on 
me  some  earth,  (for  thou  canst  do  so,)  and  seek  out  the 
Veline  port ;  or,  if  there  be  any  means,  if  thy  goddess 
mother  point  out  any,  (for  thou  dost  not,  I  presume, 
without  the  will  of  the  gods,  attempt  to  cross  such  mighty 
rivers  and  the  Stygian  lake,)  lend  your  hand  to  an  un- 
happy wretch,  and  bear  me  with  you  over  the  waves,  that 
in  death  at  least  I  may  rest  in  peaceful  seats. 

Thus  he  spoke,  when  thus  the  prophetess  began : 
Whence,  O  Palinurus,  rises  in  thee  this  so  impious  desire  ? 
Shall  you  unburied  behold  the  Stygian  floods,  and  the 
grim  river  of  the  Furies,  or  reach  the  bank  against  the 
command  [of  heaven]  ?  Cease  to  hope  that  the  decrees 
of  the  gods  are  to  be  altered  by  prayers ;  but  mindful 
take  these  predictions  as  the  solace  of  your  hard  fate. 
For  the  neighbouring  people,  compelled  by  portentous 
plagues  from  heaven,  shall  through  their  several  cities  far 
and  wide  offer  atonement  to  thy  ashes,  erect  a  tomb,  and 
stated  anniversary  offering  on  that  tomb  present ;  and  the 
place  shall  for  ever  retain  the  name  of  Palinurus.  By  these 


B.  VI.  382-410. 


153 


words  his  cares  were  removed,  and  grief  was  for  a  time 
banished  from  his  disconsolate  heart :  he  rejoices  in  the 
land  that  is  to  bear  his  name. ' 

They  therefore  accomplish  their  journey  begun,  and 
approach  the  river :  whom  when  the  boatmen  soon  from 
.  the  Stygian  wave  beheld  advancing  through  the  silent 
grove,  and  stepping  forward  to  the  bank,  thus  he  first 
accosts  them  in  words,  and  chides  them  unprovoked: 
Whoever  thou  mayest  be,  who  art  now  advancing  armed 
to  our  rivers,  say  quick  for  what  end  thou  comest ;  and 
from  that  very  spot  repress  thy  step.  This  is  the  region 
of  Ghosts,  of  Sleep,  and  drowsy  Night :  to  waft  over  the 
bodies  of  the  living  in  my  Stygian  boat  is  not  permitted. 
Nor  indeed  was  it  joy  to  me  that  I  received  Alcides  on  the 
lake  when  he  came,  or  Theseus  and  Pirithous,  though 
they  were  the  offspring  of  the  gods,  and  invincible  in 
might.  One  with  his  hand  put  the  keeper  of  Tartarus  in 
chains,  and  dragged  him  trembling  from  the  throne  of 
our  king  himself ;  the  others  attempted  to  carry  off  our 
queen  from  Pluto's  bed-chamber. 

In  answer  to  which,  the  Amphrysian  prophetess  spoke  : 
No  such  plots  are  here,  be  not  disturbed,  nor  do  these 
weapons  bring  violence :  the  huge  porter  may  bay  in  his 
den  for  ever,  terrifying  the  incorporeal  shades  :  chaste 
Proserpine  may  remain  in  her  uncle's  palace. -^"f^rojan 
^neas,  illustrious  for  piety  and  arms,  descends"  to  the 
deep  shades  of  Krebus  to  his  sire.  If  the  image  of  such 
piety  makes  no  impression  on  you,  own  a  regard  at  least 
to  this  branch  (she  shows  the  branch  that  was  concealed 
under  her  robe).  Then  his  heaxt  from  swelling  rage  is 
stilled :  nor  passed  more  words  than  these.  He  with  won- 
der gazing  on  the  hallowed  present  of  the  fatal  branch, 
beheld  after  a  long  season,  turns  towards  them  his  lead- 
coloured  barge,  and  approaches  the  bank.    Thence  he 


154 


B.  VI.  411-438. 


dislodges  the  other  souls  that  sat  on  the  long  benches, 
and  clears  the  hatches ;  at  the  same  time,  receives  into 
the  hold  the  mighty  ^neas.  The  boat  of  sewn  hide 
groaned  under  the  weight,  and,  being  leaky,  took  in  much 
water  from  the  lake.  At  length  he  lands  the  hero  and 
the  prophetess  safe  on  the  other  side  of  the  river,  on  the 
foul  slimy  strand  and  sea-green  weed.  Huge  Cerberus 
makes  these  realms  to  resound  with  barking  from  his 
triple  jaws,  stretched  at  his  enormous  length  in  a  den  that 
fronts  the  gate.  To  whom  the  prophetess,  seeing  his 
neck  now  bristle  with  horrid  snakes,  flings  a  soporific 
cake  of  honey  and  medicated  grain.  He,  in  the  mad  rage 
of  hunger,  opening  his  three  mouths,  snatches  the  offered 
morsel,  and,  spread  on  the  ground,  relaxes  his  monstrous 
limbs,  and  is  extended  at  vast  length  over  all  the  cave, 
^neas,  now  that  the  keeper  [of  hell]  is  buried  [in  sleep], 
seizes  the  passage,  and  swift  overpasses  the  bank  of  that 
flood  whence  there  is  no  return. 

Forthwith  are  heard  voices,  loud  wailings,  and  weeping 
ghosts  of  infants,  in  the  first  opening  of  the  gate  ;  whom, 
bereaved  of  sweet  life  out  of  the  course  of  nature,  and 
snatched  from  the  breast,  a  black  day  cut  off,  and  buried 
in  an  untimely  grave. 

Next  to  those,  are  such  as  had  been  condemned  to 
death  by  false  accusations.  Nor  yet  were  those  seats 
assigned  them  without  a  trial,  without  a  judge.  Minos, 
as  inquisitor,  shakes  the  urn  :  he  convokes  the  council  of 
the  silent,  and  examines  their  lives  and  crimes. 

The  next  places  in  order  those  mournful  ones  possess, 
who,  though  free  from  crime,  procured  death  to  them- 
selves with  their  own  hands,  and,  sick  of  the  light,  threw 
away  their  lives.  How  gladly  would  they  now  endure 
poverty  and  painful  toils  in  the  upper  regions  1  Fate  op- 
poses, and  the  hateful  lake  imprisons  them  with  its 


B.  VI.  439-468. 


155 


dreary  waves,  and  Styx,  nine  times  rolling  between,  con- 
fines them. 

Not  far  from  this  part,  extended  on  every  side,  are 
shown  the  fields  of  mourning  :  so  they  call  them  by  name. 
Here  by  paths  remote  conceal,  and  myrtle-groves  cover 
those  around,  whom  unrelenting  love,  with  his  cruelj 
venom,  consumed  away.  Their  cares  leave  them  not  in 
death  itself.  In  these  places  he  sees  Phaedra  and  Procris, 
and  disconsolate  Briphylt:  pointing  to  the  wounds  she  had 
received  from  her  cruel  son  ;  Bvadne  also,  and  Pasiphae : 
these  I^aodamia  accompanies,  and  Caeneus,  once  a  youth, 
now  a  woman,  and  again  by  fate  transformed  into  his 
pristine  shape.  Amongst  whom  Phoenician  Dido,  fresh 
from  her  wound,  was  wandering  in  a  spacious  wood; 
whom  as  soon  as  the  Trojan  hero  approached,  and  dis- 
covered faintly  through  the  shades,  (in  like  manner  as 
one  sees,  or  thinks  he  sees,  the  moon  rising  through  the 
clouds  in  the  beginning  of  her  monthly  course,)  he 
dropped  tears,  and  addressed  her  in  love's  sweet  accents  : 
Hapless  Dido,  was  it  then  a  true  report  I  had  of  your 
being  dead,  and  that  you  had  finished  your  own  destiny 
by  the  sword?  Was  I,  alas  !  the  cause  of  your  death  ?  I 
swear  by  the  stars,  by  the  powers  above,  and  by  what- 
ever faith  may  be  under  the  deep  earth,  that  against  my 
will,  O  queen,  I  departed  from  thy  coast.  But  the  man- 
dates of  the  gods,  which  now  compel  me  to  travel  through 
these  shades,  through  noisome  dreary  regions  and  deep 
night,  drove  me  from  you  by  their  authority ;  nor  could 
I  believe  that  I  should  bring  upon  you  such  deep  anguish 
by  my  departure.  Stay  your  steps,  and  withdraw  not  thy- 
self from  my  sight.  Whom  dost  thou  fly  ?  This  is  the 
last  time  fate  allows  me  to  address  you.  With  these  words 
^neas  thought  to  soothe  her  soul  inflamed,  and  eyeing  him 
with  stern  regard,  and  provoked  his  tears  to  flow.  She 
8 


156 


B.  VI.  4G9-*98. 


turned  away,  kept  her  eyes  fixed  on  the  ground ;  nor  alters 
her  looks  more,  in  consequence  of  the  conversation  he  had 
begun,  then  if  she  were  fixed  immovable  like  a  stubborn 
flint  or  rock  of  Parian  marble.  At  length  she  abruptly 
retired,  and  in  detestation  fled  into  a  shady  grove,  where 
Sichseus  her  first  lord  answers  her  with  [amorous]  cares, 
and  returns  her  love  for  love,  ^neas,  nevertheless,  in 
commotion  for  her  disastrous  fate,  with  weeping  eyes, 
pursues  her  far,  and  pities  her  as  she  goes. 

Hence  he  holds  on  his  destined  way ;  and  now  they  had 
reached  the  last  fields,  which  by  themselves  apart  re- 
nowned warriors  frequent.  Here  Tydeus  appears  to  him, 
here  Parthenopoeus  illustrious  in  arms,  and  the  ghost  of 
Adrastus.  Here  [appear]  those  Trojans  who  had  died  in 
the  field  of  battle,  much  lamented  in  the  upper  world : 
whom  when  he  beheld  altogether  in  a  numerous  body,  he 
inwardly  groaned.  Glaucus,  Medon,  Thersilochus,  the 
three  sons  of  Antenor,  and  Polybsetes  devoted  to  Ceres, 
and  Idseus  still  handling  his  chariot,  still  his  armour.  The 
ghosts  in  crowds  around  him  stand  on  the  right  and  left : 
nor  are  they  satisfied  with  seeing  him  once  ;  they  wish  to 
detain  him  long,  to  come  into  close  conference  with  him, 
and  learn  the  reasons  of  his  visit.  But  as  soon  as  the 
Grecian  chiefs  and  Agamemnon's  battalions  saw  the  hero, 
and  his  arms  gleaming  through  the  shades,  they  quaked 
with  dire  dismay  :  some  turned  their  backs,  as  when  they 
fled  once  to  their  ships  ;  some  raise  their  slender  voices  ; 
the  scream  begun  dies  in  their  gasping  throats. 

And  here  he  espies  Deiphobus,  the  son  of  Priam,  man- 
gled in  every  limb,  his  face,  his  face  and  both  his  hands 
.cruelly  torn,  his  temples  bereft  of  the  ears  cropped  off, 
and  his  nostrils  slit  with  a  hideously  deformed  wound. 
Thus  he  hardly  knew  him  quaking  for  agitation,  and  seek- 
ing to  hide  the  marks  of  his  drefidful  punishment ;  and  he 


6.  VI.  499-528. 


157 


first  accosts  him  with  well-known  accents:  Deiphobns, 
great  in  arms,  sprung  from  Teucer's  nobleblood,  who  could 
choose  to  inflict  such  cruelties  ?  Or  who  was  allowed  to  ex- 
ercise such  power  over  you?  To  me,  in  that  last  night,  a 
report  was  brought  that  you,  tired  with  the  vast  slaughter 
of  the  Greeks,  had  fallen  at  last  on  a  heap  of  mingled, 
carcasses.  Then,  with  my  own  hands,  I  raised  to  you  an 
empty  tomb  on  the  Rhoetean  shore,  and  thrice  with  loud 
voice  I  invoked  your  manes.  Your  name  and  arms  pos- 
sess the  place.  Your  body,  my  friend,  I  could  not  find, 
or,  at  my  departure,  deposit  in  thy  native  land.  And  upon 
this  the  son  of  Priam  said :  Nothing,  my  friend,  has  been 
omitted  by  you;  you  have  discharged  every  duty  to 
Deipnobus,  and  to  the-  shadow  of  a  corpse.  But  my  own 
fate,  and  the  cursed  wickedness  of  Helen,  plunged  me  in 
these  woes :  she  hath  left  me  these  monuments  [of  her 
love].  For  how  we  passed  that  last  night  amidst  ill- 
grounded  joys  you  know,  and  must  remember  but  too 
well,  when  the  fatal  horse  came  bounding  over  our  lofty 
walls,  and  pregnant  brought  armed  infantry  in  its  womb. 
She,  pretending  a  dance,  led  her  train  of  Phr^^gian  matrons 
yelling  around  the  orgies :  herself  in  the  midst  held  a 
large  flaming  torch,  and  called  to  the  Greeks  from  the  lofty 
tower.  I,  being  at  that  time  oppressed  with  care,  and 
overpowered  with  sleep,  was  lodged  in  my  unfortunate 
bed-chamber :  rest,  balmy,  profound,  and  the  perfect  im- 
age of  a  calm,  peaceful  death,  pressed  me  as  I  lay.  Mean- 
while my  incomparable  spouse  removes  all  arms  from  my 
palace,  and  had  withdrawn  my  trusty  sword  from  my 
head :  she  calls  Menelaus  into  the  palace,  and  throws  open 
the  gates ;  hoping,  no  doubt,  that  would  be  a  mighty 
favour  to  her  amorous  husband,  and  that  thus  the  infamy 
of  her  former  wicked  deeds  might  be  extinguished.  In 
short  they  burst  into  my  chamber :  that  traitor  of  the  race 


158 


B.  VI.  529-558. 


ofu^olus,  the  promoter  of  villainy,  is  joined  in  company 
with  them.  Ye  gods,  requite  these  cruelties  to  the  Greeks, 
if  I  supplicate  vengeance  with  pious  lips !  But  come  now, 
in  thy  turn,  say  what  adventure  hath  brought  thee  hither 
alive.  Dost  thou  come  driven  by  the  casualties  of  the 
main,  or  by  the  direction  of  the  gods?  or  what  fortune 
compels  thee  to  visit  these  dreary  mansions,  troubled 
regions,  where  the  sun  never  shines? 

In  this  conversation  the  sun  in  his  rosy  chariot  had  now 
passed  the  meridian  in  his  ethereal  course  ;  and  they  per- 
haps would  in  this  manner  have  passed  the  whole  time 
assigned  them  ;  but  the  Sibyl,  his  companion,  put  him  in 
mind,  and  thus  briefly  spoke  :  ^neas,  the  night  comes  on 
apace,  while  we  waste  the  hours  in  lamentations.  This  is 
the  place  where  the  path  divides  itself  in  two  ;  the  right  is 
what  leads  beneath  great  Pluto's  walls ;  by  this  our  way 
to  Elysium  lies  :  but  the  left  carries  on  the  punishments 
of  the  wicked,  and  conveys  to  cursed  Tartarus.  On  the 
other  hand,  Deiphobus  [said]  :  Be  not  incensed,  great 
priestess ;  I  shall  be  gone  ;  I  will  fill  up  the  number  [of 
the  ghosts]  and  be  rendered  back  to  darkness.  Go,  go, 
thou  glory  of  our  nation ;  mayest  thou  find  fates  more 
kind  1  This  only  he  spoke,  and  at  the  word  turned  his 
steps. 

^neas  on  a  sudden  looks  back,  and  under  a  rock  on  the 
left  sees  vast  prisons  enclosed  with  a  triple  wall,  which 
Tartarean  Phlegethon's  rapid  flood  environs  with  torrents 
of  flame,  and  whirls  roaring  rocks  along.  Fronting  is  a 
huge  gate,  with  columns  of  solid  adamant,  that  no  strength 
of  men,  nor  the  gods  themselves,  can  with  steel  demolish. 
An  iron  tower  rises  aloft ;  and  there  wakeful  Tisiphone, 
with  her  bloody  robe  tucked  up  around  her,  sits  to  watch 
the  vestibule  both  night  and  day.  Hence  groans  are  heard  ; 
the  cruel  lashes  resound ;  the  grating,  too,  of  iron,  and 


B.  VI.  559-587. 


159 


clank  of  dragging  chains,  ^neas  stopped  short,  and 
starting,  listened  to  the  din.  What  scenes  of  gtiilt  are 
these  ?  O  virgin,  say  ;  or  with  what  pains  are  they  chastised  ? 
what  hideous  yelling  [ascends]  to  the  skies  !  Then  thus 
the  prophetess  began  :  Renowned  leader  of  the  Trojans, 
no  holy  person  is  allowed  to  tread  the  accursed  threshold  : 
but  Hecate,  when  she  set  me  over  the  groves  of  Avernus, 
herself  taught  me  the  punishments  appointed  by  the  gods, 
and  led  me  through  every  part.  Cretan  Rhadamanthus 
possesses  these  most  ruthless  realms;  examines  and 
punishes  frauds;  and  forces  every  one  to  confess  what 
crimes  committed  in  the  upper  world  he  had  left  [un- 
atoned]  till  the  late  hour  of  death,  hugging  himself  in 
secret  crime  of  no  avail.  Forthwith  avenging  Tisiphone, 
armed  with  her  whip,  scourges  the  guilty  with  cruel  in- 
sult, and  in  her  left  hand  shaking  over  them  her  grim 
sna)kes,  calls  the  fierce  troops  of  her  sister  Furies. 

Then  at  length  the  accursed  gates,  grating  on  their 
dreadful-sounding  hinges,  are  thrown  open.  See  you 
what  kind  of  watch  sits  in  the  entry  ?  what  figure  guards 
the  gate?  An  overgrown  Hydra,  more  fell  [than  any 
Fury] ,  with  fifty  black  gaping  mouths,  has  her  seat  within. 
Then  Tartarus  itself  sinks  deep  down,  and  extends  towards 
the  shades  twice  as  far  as  is  the  prospect  upwards  to  the 
ethereal  throne  of  heaven.  Here  Earth's  ancient  progeny» 
the  Titanian  youth,  hurled  down  with  thunderbolts,  welter 
in  the  profound  abyss.  Here,  too,  I  saw  the  two  sons  of 
Aloeus,  gigantic  bodies,  who  attempted  with  their  might 
to  overturn  the  spacious  heavens,  and  thrust  down  Jove 
from  his  exalted  kingdom.  Salmoneus  likewise  I  beheld 
suffering  severe  punishment,  for  having  imitated  Jove's 
flaming  bolts,  and  the  sounds  of  heaven.  He,  drawn  in 
his  chariot  by  four  horses,  and  brandishing  a  torch,  rode 
triumphant  among  the  nations  of  Greece,  and  in  the  midst 
8* 


160 


B.  VI.  588-617. 


of  the  city  Blis,  and  claimed  to  himself  the  honour  of  ihe 
gods :  infatuate  !  who,  with  brazen  car,  and  the  prancing 
of  his  horn-hoofed  steeds,  would  needs  counterfeit  the 
storms  and  inimitable  thunder.  But  the  almighty  Sire 
amidst  the  thick  clouds  threw  a  bolt,  (not  firebrands  he, 
nor  smoky  light  from  torches,)  and  hurled  him  down  head- 
long in  a  vast  whirlwind.  Here,  too,  you  might  have  seen 
Tityus,  the  foster-child  of  all-bearing  Barth  :  whose  body 
is  extended  over  nine  whole  acres  ;  and  a  huge  vulture, 
with  her  hooked  beak;  pecking  at  his  immortal  liver,  and 
his  bowels,  the  fruitful  source  of  punishment,  both  searches 
them  for  her  banquet,  and  dwells  in  the  deep  recesses  of 
his  breast ;  nor  is  any  respite  given  to  his  fibres  still  spring- 
ing up  afresh.  Why  should  I  mention  the  Lapithse,  Ixion, 
and  Pirithous,  over  whom  hangs  a  black  flijlty  rock,  ev^ry 
moment  threatening  to  tumble  down,  and  seeming  to  be 
actually  falling  ?  Golden  pillars  [supporting]  lofty  genial 
couches  shine,  and  full  in  their  view  are  banquets  fur- 
nished out  with  regal  magnificence ;  the  chief  of  the 
Furies  sits  by  them,  and  debars  them  from  touching  the 
provisions  with  their  hands ;  and  starts  up,  lifting  her 
torch  on  high,  and  thunders  over  them  with  her  voice. 


^lere  are  those  who,  while  life  remained,  had  been  at 
"enmity  with  their  brothers,  had  beaten  a  parent,  or 
wrought  deceit  against  a  client ;  or  who  alone  brooded 
over  their  acquired  wealth,  nor  assigned  a  portion  to  their 
own  ;  which  class  is  the  most  numerous  :  those,  too,  who 
were  slain  for  adultery,  who  joined  in  impious  wars,  and 
did  not  scruple  to  violate  the  faith  they  had  plighted  to 
their  masters:  shut  up,  they  await  their  punishment. 
But  what  kind  of  punishment  seek  not  to  be  informed, 
in  what  shape  [of  misery],  or  in  what  state  they  are  in- 
volved. Some  roll  a  huge  stone,  and  hang  fast  bound  to 
the  spokes  of  wheels.    There  sits,  and  to  eternity  shall 


B.  T1.  618-C47. 


^NKID. 


161 


sit,  the  unhappy  Theseus :  and  Phlegyas  most  wretched 
is  a  monitor  to  all,  and  with  loud  voice  proclaims  through 
4;he  shades:  Warned  [by  example],  learn  righteous- 
ness,  and  not  to  contemn  the  gods."  One  sold  his  coun- 
try for  gold,  and  imposed  on  it  a  domineering  tyrant; 
made  and  unmade  laws  for  money.  Another  invaded  his 
daughter's  bed,  and  an  unlawful  wedlock :  all  of  them 
dared  some  heinous  crime,  and  accomplished  what  they 
dared.  Had  I  a  hundred  tongues,  and  a  hundred  mouths, 
a  voice  of  iron,  I  could  not  comprehend  all  the  species 
of  their  crimes,  nor  enumerate  the  names  of  all  their 
punishments. 

When  the  aged  priestess  of  Phoebus  had  uttered  these 
words,  she  adds.  But  come  now,  set  forward,  and  finish 
the  task  you  have  undertaken  ;  let  us  haste  on  :  I  see  the 
walls  [of  Pluto],  wrought  in  the  forges  of  the  Cyclops,  and 
the  gates  with  their  arch  full  in  our  view,  where  our  in- 
structions enjoin  us  to  deposit  this  our  offering.  She  said ; 
and  with  equal  pace  advancing  through  the  gloomy  path, 
they  speedily  traverse  the  intermediate  space,  and  ap- 
proach the  gates,  ^neas  springs  forward  to  the  entry, 
sprinkles  his  body  with  fresh  water,  and  fixes  the  bough 
in  the  fronting  portal. 

Having  finished  these  rites,  and  performed  the  offering 
to  the  goddess,  they  came  at  length  to  the  regions  of  joy, 
delightful  green  retreats,  and  blessed  abodes  in  groves, 
where  happiness  abounds.  A  freer  and  purer  sky  here 
clothes  the  fields  with  sheeny  light :  they  know  their  own ; 
sun,  their  own  stars.  Some  exercise  their  limbs  on  the 
grassy  green,  in  sports  contend,  and  wrestle  on  the  tawny 
sand  :  some  strike  the  ground  with  their  feet  in  the  dance, 
and  sing  hymns.  ^  [Orpheus,]  too,  the  Thracian  priest,  in 
his  long  robe,  replies  in  melodious  numbers  to  the  seven 
distinguished  notes;  and  now  strikes  the  same  with  his 


362 


B.  VI.  G47  677 


fingers,  now  with  his  ivory  quill.  Here  may  be  seen 
Teucer's  ancient  race,  a  most  illustrious  line,  magnani- 
mous heroes,  born  in  happier  times,  Ilus,  Assaracus,  and 
Dardanus,  the  founder  of  Troy.  From  afar,  [iE)neas]  views  • 
with  wonder  the  arms  and  empty  chariots  of  the  chiefs. 
Their  spears  stand  fixed  in  the  ground,  and  up  and  down 
their  horses  feed  at  large  through  the  plain.  The  same 
fondness  they  had  when  alive  for  chariots  and  arms,  the 
same  concern  for  training  up  shining  steeds,  follow  them 
when  deposited  beneath  the  earth. 

IvO  !  he  beholds  others  on  the  right  and  left  feasting  up- 
on the  grass,  and  singing  the  joyful  paean  to  Apollo  in 
concert,  amidst  a  fragrant  grove  of  laurel ;  whence  from 
on  high  the  river  Kridanus  rolls  in  copious  streams 
through  the  wood.  Here  is  a  band  of  those  who  sustained 
wounds  in  fighting  for  their  country ;  priests  who  pre- 
served themselves  pure  and  holy,  while  life  remained; 
pious  poets,  who  sung  in  strains  worthy  of  Apollo  ;  those 
who  improved  life  by  the  invention  of  arts,  and  who  by 
their  worthy  deeds  made  others  remember  them :  all 
these  have  their  temples  crowned  with  a  snow-white  fil- 
let. Whom,  gathered  around,  the  Sibyl  thus  addressed, 
Musseus  chiefly ;  for  a  numerous  crowd  had  him  in  their 
centre,  and  looked  up  with  reverence  to  him  raised  above 
them  by  the  height  of  his  shoulders :  Say,  blest  souls, 
and  thou,  best  of  poets,  what  region,  what  place  contains 
Anchises?  on  his  account  we  have  come,  and  crossed  the 
great  rivers  of  hell.  And  thus  the  hero  briefly  returned 
her  an  answer :  None  of  us  have  a  fixed  abode  ;  in  shady 
groves  we  dwell,  or  lie  on  couches  all  along  the  banks,  and 
on  meadows  fresh  with  rivulets :  but  do  you,  if  so  your 
heart's  inclination  leads,  overpass  this  eminence,  and  I 
will  set  you  in  the  easy  path.  He  said,  and  advanced  his 
steps  on  before,  and  shows  them  from  a  rising  ground  the 


B.  VI  678-707. 


163 


shining  plains ;  then  they  descend  from  the  summit  of 
the  mountain.  But  father  Anchises,  deep  in  a  verdant 
dale,  was  surveying  with  studious  cares  the  souls  there 
enclosed,  who  were  to  revisit  the  light  above  ;  and  hap- 
pened to  be  reviewing  the  whole  number  of  his  race,  his 
dear  descendants,  their  fates  and  fortunes,  their  manners 
and  achievements.  As  soon  as  he  beheld  ^neas  ad- 
vancing towards  him  across  the  meads,  he  joyfully 
stretched  out  both  his  hands,  and  tears  poured  down  his 
cheeks,  and  these  words  dropped  from  his  mouth :  Ace 
yoii  come  at  length,  and  has  that  piety,  experienced  by 
your  sire,  surmounted  the  arduous  journey  ?  Am  I  per- 
mitted, my  son,  to  see  thy  face,  to  hear  and  return  the 
well-known  accents?  So  indeed  I  concluded  in  my 
mind,  and  reckoned  it  would  happen,  computing  the 
time  •  nor  have  my  anxious  hopes  deceived  me.  Over 
what  lands,  O  son,  and  over  what  immense  seas,  have 
you,  I  hear,  been  tossed!  with  what  dangers  harassed! 
how  I  dreaded  lest  you  had  sustained  harm  from  lyibya's 
realms!  But  he  [said].  Your  ghost,  your  sorrowing 
ghost,  my  sire,  oftentimes  appearing,  compelled  me  to 
set  forward  to  these  thresholds.  My  fleet  rides  in  the 
Tyrrhene  Sea.  Permit  me,  father,  to  join  my  right 
hand  [with  thine]  ;  and  withdraw  not  thyself  from  my 
embrace.  So  saying,  he  at  the  same  time  bedewed  his 
cheeks  with  a  flood  of  tears^  .There  thrice  he  attempted 
to  throw  his  arms  around  his  neck;  thrice  the  phantom, 
grasped  in  vain,  escaped  his  hold,  like  the  fleet  gales,  or 
resembling  most  a  fugitive  dream. 

Meanwhile  ^neas  sees  in  the  retired  vale,  a  grove  sit- 
uate by  itself,  shrubs  rustling  in  the  woods,  and  the  river 
lyethe  which  glides  by  those  peaceful  dwellings.  Around 
this  unnumbered  tribes  and  nations  of  ghosts  were  flut- 
tering ;  as  in  meadows  on  a  serene  summer's  day,  when* 


184 


B.  VI.  708-737 


the  bees  sit  on  the  various  blossoms,  and  swarm  around 
the  snow-white  lilies,  all  the  plain  buzzes  with  their  hum- 
ming noise,  ^neas,  confounded,  shudders  at  the  unex- 
pected sight,  and  asks  the  causes,  what  are  those  rivers 
in  the  distance,  or  what  ghosts  have  in  such  crowds  filled 
the  banks?  Then  father  Anchises  [said],  Those  souls, 
for  whom  other  bodies  are  destined  by  fate,  at  the  streams 
of  Ivethe's  flood  quaif  care-expelling  draughts  and  lasting 
oblivion.  Ivong  indeed  have  I  wished  to  give  you  a  de- 
tail of  these,  and  to  point  them  out  before  you,  and  enu- 
merate this  my  future  race,  that  you  may  rejoice  the 
more  with  me  in  the  discovery  of  Italy.  O  father,  is  it 
to  be  imagined  that  any  souls  of  an  exalted  nature  will 
go  hence  to  the  world  above,  and  enter  again  into  inac- 
tive bodies?  What  direful  love  of  the  light  possesses  the 
miserable  beings?  I,  indeed,  replies  Anchises,  will  in- 
form you,  my  son,  nor  hold  you  longer  in  suspense:  and 
thus  he  unfolds  each  particular  in  order. 

In  the  first  place,  the  spirit  within  nourishes  the 
heavens,  the  earth,  and  watery  plains,  the  moon's  en- 
lightened orb,  and  the  Titanian  stars  ;  and  the  mind,  dif- 
fused through  all  the  members,  actuates  the  whole  frame, 
and  mingles  with  the  vast  body  [of  the  universe] .  Thence 
the  race  of  men  and  beasts,  the  vital  principles  of  the  fly- 
ing kind,  and  the  monsters  which  the  ocean  breeds  under 
its  smooth  plain.  These  principles  have  the  active  force 
of  fire,  and  are  of  a  heavenly  original,  so  far  as  they  are 
not  clogged  by  noxious  bodies,  blunted  by  earth-born' 
^iimbs  and  dying  members.  Hence  they  fear  and  desire, 
grieve  and  rejoice  ;  and,  shut  up  in  darkness  and  a 
gloomy  prison,  lose  sight  of  their  native  skies.  Kven 
when  with  the  last  beams  of  light  their  life  is  gone,  yet 
not  every  ill,  nor  all  corporeal  strains,  are  quite  removed 
from  the  unhappy  beings  ;  and  it  is  absolutely  necessary 


B.  VI.  738-766. 


165 


that  many  imperfections  which  have  long  been  joined  to 
the  soul,  should  be  in  marvellous  ways  increased  and 
riveted  therein.  Therefore  are  they  afflicted  with  pun- 
ishments, and  pay  the  penalties  of  their  former  ills. 
Some,  hung  on  high,  are  spread  out  to  the  empty  winds ; 
in  others  the  guilt  not  done  away  is  washed  out  in  a  vast 
watery  ab3^ss,  or  burned  away  in  fire.  We  each  endure 
his  own  manes,  thence  are  we  conveyed  along  the  spac- 
ious Elysium,  and  we,  the  happy  few,  possess  the  fields 
of  bliss ;  till  length  of  time,  after  the  fixed  period  is 
elapsed,  hath  done  away  the  inherent  stain,  and  hath  left 
the  pure  celestial  reason,  and  the  fiery  energy  of  the  sim- 
ple spirit.  All  these,  after  they  have  rolled  away  a 
thousand  years,  are  summoned  forth  by  the  god  in  a 
great  body  to  the  river  lyethe  ;  to  the  intent  that,  losing 
i  memory  [of  the  past] ,  they  may  revisit  the  vaulted  realms 
\  H  above,  and  again  become  willing  to  return  into  bodies. 
Anchises  thus  spoke,  and  leads  his  son,  together  with  the 
Sibyl,  into  the  midst  of  the  assembly  and  noisy  throng ; 
thence  chooses  a  rising  ground,  whence  he  may  survey 
them  all  as  they  stand  opposite  to  him  in  a  long  row,  and 
discern  their  looks  as  they  approach. 

Now  come,  I  will  explain  to  you  what  glory  shall 
henceforth  attend  the  Trojan  race,  what  descendants 
await  them  of  the  Italian  nation,  distinguished  souls,  and 
who  shall  succeed  to  our  name  ;  yourself,  too,  I  will  instruct 
in  your  particular  fate.  See  you  that  youth  who  leans  on 
his  pointless  spear?  He  by  destiny  holds  a  station  near- 
est to  the  light ;  he  shall  ascend  to  the  upper  world  the 
first  [of  your  race]  who  shall  have  a  mixture  of  Italian 
blood  in  his  veins,  Sylvius,  an  Alban  name,  your  last 
issue  ;  w^hom  late  your  consort  Lavinia  shall  in  the  woods 
^  bring  forth  to  you  in  your  advanced  age,  himself  a  king, 
and  the  father  of  kings  ;  in  whom  our  line  shall  reign  over 


166 


B.  VI.  767-796. 


Alba  Longa.  The  next  is  Procas  the  glory  of  the  Trojan 
nation  ;  then  Capys  and  Numitor  follow,  and  ^neas  Syl- 
vius, who  shall  represent  thee  in  name,  equally  distin- 
guished for  piety  and  arms,  if  ever  he  receive  the  crown 
of  Alba.  See  what  youths  are  these,  what  manly  force 
they  show  !  and  bear  their  temples  shaded  with  civic  oak ; 
these  to  thy  honour  shall  build  Nomentum,  Gabii,  and  the 
city  Fidena  ;  these  on  the  mountains  shall  raise  the  Col- 
latine  towers,  Pometia,  the  fort  of  Inuus,  Bola,  and  Cora. 
These  shall  then  be  famous  names  ;  now  they  are  lands 
without  names.  Further,  martial  Romulus,  whom  Ilia 
of  the  line  Assaracus  shall  bear,  shall  add  himself  as  com- 
panion to  his  grandsire  [Numitor] .  See  you  not  how  the 
double  plumes  stand  on  his  head  erect,  and  how  the 
father  of  the  gods  himself  already  marks  him  out  with  his 
distinguished  honours  !  Lo,  my  son,  under  his  auspicious 
influence  Rome,  that  city  of  renown,  shall  measure  her 
dominion  by  the  earth,  and  her  valour  by  the  skies,  and 
that  one  city  shall  for  herself  wall  around  seven  strong 
hills,  happy  in  a  race  of  heroes ;  like  mother  Berecyn- 
thia,  when,  crowned  with  turrets,  she  rides  in  her  chariot 
through  the  Phrygian  towns,  joyful  in  a  progeny  of  gods, 
embracing  a  hundred  grandchildren,  all  inhabitants  of 
heaven,  all  seated  in  the  high  celestial  abodes.  This  way 
now  bend  both  your  eyes  ;  view  this  lineage,  and  your 
own  Romans.  This  is  Csesar,  and  these  are  the  whole 
race  of  liilus,  who  shall  one  da}^  rise  to  the  spacious  axle 
of  the  sk}^.  This,  this  is  the  man  whom  you  have  often 
heard  promised  to  you,  Augustus  Csesar,  the  offspring  of 
a  god  ;  who  once  more  shall  establish  the  golden  age  in 
lyatium,  through  those  lands  where  Saturn  reigned  of  old, 
and  shall  extend  his  empire  over  the  Garamantes  and 
Indians  ;  their  land  lies  without  the  signs  [of  the  zodiac], 
beyond  the  sun's  annual  course,  where  Atlas,  supporting 


B.  VI.  797-826. 


167 


heaven  on  his  shoulders,  turns  the  axle  studded  with 
flaming  stars.  Against  his  approach  even  now  both  the 
Caspian  realms  and  the  land  about  the  Palus  Mseotis  are 
dreadfully  dismayed  at  the  responses  of  the  gods,  and  the 
quaking  mouths  of  seven-fold  Nile  hurry  on  their  troubled 
waves.  Even  Hercules  did  not  run  over  so  many  coun- 
tries, though  he  transfixed  the  brazen-footed  hind, 
quelled  the  forests  of  Erymanthus,  and  made  Lerna 
tremble  with  his  bow :  nor  Bacchus,  who  in  triumph 
drives  his  car  with  reins  wrapped  about  with  vine  leaves, 
driving  the  tigers  from  Nyssa's  lofty  top.  And  doubt  we 
yet  to  extend  our  glory  by  our  deeds  ?  or  is  fear  a  bar  to 
our  settling  in  the  Ausonian  land  ? 

But  who  is  he  at  a  distance,  distinguished  by  the  olive 
boughs,  bearing  the  sacred  utensils  ?  I  know  the  locks 
and  hoary  beard  of  the  Roman  king,  who  first  shall  estab- 
lish this  city  by  laws,  sent  from  little  Cures  and  a  poor 
estate  to  vast  empire.  Whom  TuUus  shall  next  succeed, 
who  shall  break  the  peace  of  his  country,  and  rouse  to 
arms  his  inactive  subjects,  and  troops  now  unused  to 
triumphs.  Whom  follows  next  vain-glorious  Ancus,  even 
now  too  much  rejoicing  in  the  breath  of  popular  applause. 
Will  you  also  see  the  Tarquin  kings,  and  the  haughty 
soul  of  Brutus,  the  avenger  [of  his  country's  wrongs] ,  and 
the  recovered  fasces?  He  first  shall  receive  the  consular 
power,  and  the  axe  of  justice  inflexibly  severe ;  and  the 
sire  shall,  for  the  sake  of  glorious  liberty,  summon  to 
death  his  own  sons,  raising  an  unknown  kind  of  war.  Un- 
happy he !  however  posterity  shall  interpret  that  action, 
love  to  his  country,  and  the  unbounded  desire  of  praise, 
will  [prevail  over  paternal  affection].  See  besides  at 
some  distance  the  Decii,  Drusi,  Torquatus,  inflexibly  se- 
vere with  the  axe,  and  Camillus  recovering  the  standards. 
But  those  [two]  ghosts  whom  you  observe  to  shine  in 
9 


168 


B.  VI.  827  855 


equal  arms,  in  perfect  friendship  now,  and  while  they  re- 
main shut  up  in  night,  ah !  what  war,  what  battles  and 
havoc  will  they  between  them  raise,  if  once  they  have 
attained  to  the  light  of  life  !  the  father-in-law  descending 
from  the  Alpine  hills,  and  the  tower  of  Monoecus  ;  the 
son-in-law  furnished  with  the  troops  of  the  east  to  oppose 
him.  Make  not,  my  sons,  make  not  such  [unnatural] 
wars  familiar  to  your  minds;  nor  turn  the  powerful 
strength  of  your  country  against  its  bowels.  And  thou, 
[Csesar,]  first  forbear,  thou  who  derivest  thy  origin  from 
heaven ;  fling  those  arms  out  of  thy  hand,  O  thou,  my 
own  blood !  That  one,  having  triumphed  over  Corinth, 
shall  drive  his  chariot  victorious  to  the  lofty  Capitol,  illus- 
trious from  the  slaughter  of  Greeks.  The  other  shall 
overthrow  Argos,  and  Mycenae,  Agamemnon's  seat,  and 
Eacides  himself,  the  descendant  of  valorous  Achilles ; 
avenging  his  Trojan  ancestors,  and  the  violated  temple  of 
Minerva.  Who  can  in  silence  pass  over  thee,  great  Cato, 
or  thee,  Cossus  ?  who  the  family  of  Gracchus,  or  both  the 
Scipios,  those  two  thunderbolts  of  war,  the  bane  of  Africa, 
and  Fabricius  in  low  fortune  exalted?  or  thee,  Serranus, 
sowing  in  the  furrow  [which  thy  own  hands  had  made]  ? 
Whither,  ye  Fabii,  do  you  hurry  me  tired  ?  Thou  art  that 
[Fabius  justly  styled]  the  Greatest,  who  alone  shall  repair 
our  state  by  delay.  Others,  I  grant  indeed,  shall  with 
more  delicacy  mould  the  breathing  brass ;  from  marble 
draw  the  features  to  the  life ;  plead  causes  better ;  de- 
scribe with  the  rod  the  courses  of  the  heavens,  and  ex- 
plain the  rising  stars :  to  rule  the  nations  with  imperial 
sway  be  thy  care,  O  Romans  ;  these  shall  be  thy  arts  ;  to 
impose  terms  of  peace,  to  spare  the  humbled,  and  crush 
the  proud. 

Thus  father  Anchises,  and,  as  they  are  wondering,  sub- 
joins :  Behold  how  adorned  with  triumphal  spoils  Mar- 


B.  VI  856-886. 


169 


cellus  stalks  along,  and  shines  victor  above  the  heroes  all ! 
He,  mounted  on  his  steed,  shall  prop  the  Roman  state  in 
the  rage  of  a  formidable  insurrection  ;  the  Carthaginians 
he  shall  humble,  and  the  rebellious  Gaul,  and  dedicate  to^ 
father  Quirinus  the  third  spoils.  And  upon  this  ^nea? 
[says]  ;  for  he  beheld  marching  with  him  a  youth  distin- 
guished by  his  beauty  and  shining  arms,  but  his  counte- 
nance of  little  joy,  and  his  eyes  sunk  and  dejected:  What 
youth  is  he,  O  father,  who  thus  accompanies  the  hero  as 
he  walks?  is  he  a  son,  or  one  of  the  illustrious  line  of  his 
descendants  ?  What  bustling  noise  of  attendants  round 
him !  How  great  resemblance  in  him  [to  the  other]  !  but 
sable  Night  with  her  dreary  shade  hovers  around  his  head. 
Then  father  Anchises,  while  tears  gushed  forth,  began : 
Seek  not,  my  son,  [to  know]  the  deep  disaster  of  thy  kin- 
dred :  him  the  Fates  shall  just  show  on  earth,  nor  suffer 
long  to  exist.  Ye  gods,  Rome's  sons  had  seemed  too 
powerful  in  your  eyes,  had  these  your  gifts  been  perma- 
nent. What  groans  of  heroes  shall  that  field  near  the 
Imperial  city  of  Mars  send  forth !  what  funeral  pomp  shall 
you,  O  Tiberinus,  see,  when  you  glide  by  his  recent  tomb  [ 
Neither  shall  any  youth  of  the  Trojan  line  in  hope  exalt 
the  Latin  fathers  so  high ;  nor  shall  the  land  of  Romulus 
ever  glory  so  much  in  any  of  her  sons.  Ah  piety !  ah 
that  faith  of  ancient  times !  and  that  right  hand  invincible 
in  war!  none  with  impunity  had  encountered  him  in 
arms,  either  when  on  foot  he  rushed  upon  the  foe,  or 
when  he  pierced  with  his  spur  his  foan:  ing  courser's 
flanks.  Ah  youth,  meet  subject  for  pity  !  if  by  any  means 
thou  canst  burst  rigorous  fate,  thou  shalt  be  a  Marcellus. 
Give  me  lilies  in  handfuls ;  let  me  strew  the  blooming 
flowers ;  these  offerings  at  least  let  me  heap  upon  my 
descendant's  shade,  and  discharge  this  unavailing  duty. 
Thus  up  and  down  they  roam  through  all  the  [Blysian} 


170 


B.  VI.  887-901. 


Regions  in  spacious  airy  fields,  and  survey  every  object  : 
through  each  of  whom  when  Anchises  had  conducted  his 
son,  and  fired  his  soul  with  the  love  of  coming  fame,  he 
next  recounts  to  the  hero  what  wars  he  must  hereafter 
wage,  informs  him  of  the  Laurentine  people,  and  of  the 
city  of  Latinus,  and  by  what  means  he  may  shun  or  sur- 
mount every  toil. 

Two  gates  there  are  of  Sleep,  whereof  the  one  is  said  to 
be  of  horn  ;  by  which  an  easy  egress  is  given  to  true 
visions  ;  the  other  shining,  wrought  of  white  ivory  ;  but 
[through  it]  the  infernal  gods  send  up  false  dreams  to  the 
upper  world.  When  Anchises  had  addressed  this  discourse 
to  his  son  and  the  Sibyl  together,  and  dismissed  them  by 
the  ivory  gate,  the  hero  speeds  his  way  to  the  ships,  and 
revisits  his  friends ;  then  steers  directly  along  the  coast 
for  the  port  of  Caieta :  where,  [when  he  had  arrived,]  the 
anchor  is  thrown  out  from  the  forecastle,  the  stems  rest 
upon  the  shore. 


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